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Steve McQueen's Uprising: I was asked 'what is it like to be a Black officer in a racist police force?'

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‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’, the featu

‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’, the feature film adaptation of the popular West End musical written by Tom MacRae, is centred around 16-year-old student Jamie, who has dreams of becoming a drag queen.

Based on true events, the film follows Jamie’s journey into the spotlight, where he encounters prejudice and heartache but also great support and allyship.

The film is directed by Jonathan Butterell, and stars Max Harwood and Sarah Lancashire and is said to be a feel-good coming-of-age story about self-expression and finding one’s place in the world, whist challenging prejudices in society.

“It’s…for people who feel like they’re outsiders, for people who don’t feel like they fit in. I think that’s the big reason it speaks to people, because so many of us feel like that.”- Tom MacRae.

'Everybody’s Talking About Jamie' will be released this Friday 17 September 2021, on Amazon Prime.

#createchange #jamie #lgbtq #lgbgtq+ #tommacrae

Today the 13th of September, marks the 25th annive

Today the 13th of September, marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of the iconic West Coast rapper, Tupac Amaru Shakur.

Tupac, also known by his stage name 2Pac & his alias Makaveli, was a rapper, songwriter, and actor starring in films such as Poetic Justice & Juice.

He was widely known and loved for his ‘lyrical poetry’ and is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time as he passionately challenged and addressed societal inequality and injustice through his work.

Shakur become one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide with albums such as 2Pacalypse Now and All Eyez on Me. His work has gone on to inspire a generation of rappers, and his legacy lives on to this day.

Today we pay tribute to the memory of one of the greats.

RIP Tupac Shakur

#Tupac #createchange #equality

Tune in to Channel 4 this Friday 10th September, f

'Misfits: A Personal Manifesto', Michaela Coel’s

'Misfits: A Personal Manifesto', Michaela Coel’s eagerly awaited debut book is said to be a manifesto dedicated to anyone who has ever worried about ‘fitting in’.

The book draws on topics from her triumphant lecture at the Edinburgh Festival in 2018, the first by a non-white industry figure, where she spoke about class, gender, and racism, specifically the racial barriers she experienced as a young black woman working in the television industry, as well as touching on her sexual assault experience.

During the lecture, the East London born ‘I May Destroy You’ actor and creator, provided her own definition of the word Misfits:

“The term misfits takes on dual notions; a misfit is one who looks at life differently. Many however, are made into misfits because life looks at them differently; the UK’s black, Asian, and ginger communities for example … The term can be cross-generational and crosses concepts of gender or culture, simply by a desire for transparency, a desire to see another’s point of view. Misfits who visibly fit in will sometimes find themselves merging with the mainstream, for a feeling of safety”

The book is released today, the 7th of September.

#michaelacoel #misfits #createchange #inclusion

Look who's back! Sir Lenny Henry will host the th

Look who's back!

Sir Lenny Henry will host the third annual Visionary Honours taking place at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly London on Tuesday 1st February 2022.

Make sure to save the date for the UK's only social impact awards for culture, media & entertainment.

Tickets on sale soon.

#LennyHenry #VisionaryHonours #CreateChange

The Normal Heart, directed by Dominic Cooke is a g

The Normal Heart, directed by Dominic Cooke is a ground-breaking play about the AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, a time of fear, confusion and anger due to ignorance by the government and medical establishments which led to a fast rising death toll.

It is said to be based on playwright Larry Kramer’s own first-hand experiences during the crisis, those which lead to him to set up the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy.

The play follows the story of Ned Weeks, an activist who with the help of others, campaigns for awareness and fights to change the world around him, whilst dealing with the ill health and death of loved ones due to the illness.

The cast includes Liz Carr, Daniel Monks, Danny Lee Wynter and Ben Daniels who plays the role of Ned Weeks.

“It is the rarest of things: a history play written by one of its key participants. It deals with the nature of political activism, the internal battle many LGBT people fight to feel worthy of love and, topically, the refusal of those in power to face the reality of an unfolding health crisis” - Ben Daniels

The play runs from 23rd September 21 – 6th November 21, at the National Theatre, Southbank, marking 35 years since its UK premiere.

#gayrights #lgbtq+ #lgbtcommunity #createchange #equality #thenormalheart

Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Iden

Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery, is British actor David Harewood’s debut book, set for release in September.

The book follows on from his BBC documentary ‘Psychosis and Me’ in which he explored what led to the psychotic breakdown he experienced in his early twenties which saw him sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

In the book, the Homeland actor gives his personal account of growing up both Black and British, and the examines the impact of racism on Black mental health in our society.

Black British men are 10 times more likely to suffer psychosis than their White counterparts and Black people are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than White people.

The book covers systemic racism in conjunction with Black mental health and explores what is needed to dismantle the systems and challenge the biases that continue to shape the society we live in.

@davidharewood will be discussing his memoir, race and mental health with David Olusoga at @southbankcentre on 2nd September.

#mentalhealth #race #racism #createchange

Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan, has recently

Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan, has recently spoken out on the lack of representation and diversity within the film industry, particularly in positions of power.

‘Individual successes are one thing. But structurally, when you look at who can get projects green-lit in the UK, who are in those positions of power, those gatekeeping positions – there aren’t that many Asians. There aren’t many people of colour in those positions’

This is not the first time Gemma has used her platform to promote change, she was vocal in her activism helping to raise awareness on #blacklivesmatter and #stopasianhate campaigns during the pandemic.

She believes that the different campaigns fighting for racial equality around the world need to work together to help us to see change.

‘If only black people care about Black Lives Matter, then nothing’s gonna change. And if only Asians are talking about Stop Asian Hate, nothing is going to change. And it’s only when we stick up for one another, and we stand side by side, that things will shift.’

Chan will play the lead role of Sersi in upcoming Marvel film Eternals.

#createchange #equality #diversity

Following the release of Stormzy’s single Superh

Following the release of Stormzy’s single Superheroes last year, which was a tribute to real life superheroes, #MerkyBooks are releasing a comic strip style book celebrating over 50 iconic British figures, each with their own inspirational story and unique talent.

Superheroes: Inspiring Stories of Secret strength, is written by award-winning performance poet & author, @sophiathakur , illustrated by @denzelldankwah_art and the book also features a special introduction by Stormzy himself.

Those featured in the book include athlete Dina Asher-Smith, comedian Mo Gilligan, writer/director Reggie Yates, actor Riz Ahmed, writer Candice Carty-Williams, former footballer Ian Wright, model Jourdan Dunn and many more from the fields of art, activism, sport, film, TV, music, literature & more.

Superheroes aims to challenge representation in children’s books, a field where people of colour are still largely under-represented. The characters have been selected to inspire, and encourage young readers to work hard, fulfil their own potential and create their own ‘superhero powers’.

‘This is a book filled with inspiring journeys, to encourage and empower young children. It was important to work on this book to plant a new seed of celebration. Of black excellence into our young minds who will hopefully bloom into their very own superheroes. Confident and powerful’

- Sophia Thakur

The book is available for pre-order now, ahead of its release on 16th September 2021 & 8% of proceeds will go to Stormzy’s #MerkyFoundation, a charity which aims to tackle racial inequality and injustice.

#positivechange #createchange #inspire #rolemodels

American gymnast and four-time Olympic gold medall

American gymnast and four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles has withdrawn from Thursday's individual all-around final in Tokyo.

Biles, the most successful US gymnast of all time, said she had to focus on her mental health after pulling out of the women's team final on Tuesday.

The head of the US Olympic team and fellow athletes praised Biles' decision to prioritise her mental wellbeing.

Biles scored her lowest Olympic vault score in the opening rotation before withdrawing from the team final.

Afterwards, Biles said: "After the performance I did, I just didn't want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.

"We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.

"I don't trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it's getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.

"We're not just athletes. We're people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back."

Several athletes praised Biles, including Jamaican gymnast Danusia Francis who said: "Don't know about you but I think Simone Biles just empowered everyone to put their mental wellbeing above everything else. What a queen. GOAT in more ways than one."

#createchange #mentalhealth #mentalwellbeing #selflove #simonebiles #olympics

Congratulations to Tom Daley who has finally won t

"I was asked ‘What is it like to be a Black offi

"I was asked ‘What is it like to be a Black officer in a racist police force?’"
If you tuned in to Steve McQueen's #Uprising tonight and want to know more, here's our interview with @george.rhoden, a former police officer interviewed in the show, who was on duty during the protests and riots and was injured during the Black People's Day of Action. link in bio and at bit.ly/Uprising-VA

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