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Black British English: an online talk by Ifẹ Thompson

Friday 18 October

Join Ife Thompson at Shoe Lane Library for a talk for Black History Month, exploring the importance of Black British English (BBE).

 

Join Ifẹ Thompson this Black History Month for a talk examining the rich landscape of Black British English as a language, tracing its journey through various cultural avenues—from the creative expressions found in arts, rap music, and social media to its portrayal in television and literature, and its influence in societal realms such as courtrooms and schools.

Ifẹ Thompson is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, whose unwavering commitment to racial justice earned her a nomination for the Newcomer Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2023. Her pioneering work has influenced legal strategies to address anti-Blackness in policing.

Beyond her legal career, Ifẹ is a researcher in Black history and language, renowned for her ability to curate impactful visual and audio projects that celebrate African cultural retention in Afro-descendant communities. An example is her recent project for the London Metropolitan Archives, “Black Organising in the UK: Caribbean Homes as a Site of Black Joy and Resistance”, which highlights the profound historical and cultural role of Black homes as hubs of resilience and celebration.

In 2017, Ifẹ founded Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health (BLAM), a Brixton-based non-profit dedicated to enhancing Black cultural education and mental health within the Black British community. Her leadership in the Black British English campaign was instrumental in overturning a South London school’s policy that punished students for using UK slang, reflecting her steadfast dedication to preserving and honouring Black linguistic identity.

This event will be delivered both in-person and online. To book an in-person ticket, please visit our in-person booking page.

People with in-person tickets will be able to watch the talk at Shoe Lane Library, and those with online tickets will be sent a Zoom link before the event. If you would like to change your ticket type, please email us at shoelane@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

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