Is Bristol a new beacon for black culture?

2020 has opened many people’s eyes to the racism and prejudice still living in our society. This has prompted many new transformative changes. For example, the toppling of the Colston statue and the name change from Colston hall to Bristol beacon. This shows Bristol’s true commitment at diversity and inclusion. Cleo Lake, a green party councillor, has said that the real change is in “changing mindsets and toppling inequity”. Many people in Bristol have a clear wanting for some new black culture space in Bristol’s harbour. And some plans for this may already be in motion.

Dr Mena Fombo and and Micheal Jenkins, cofounders of the Blak Wave have launched a Bristol African Caribbean space which they started as a non-profit organization. Many people are hoping for more motions like this to come for Bristol. Bristol keeps on trying to bring diversity into it's city with campaigns like the stop the maangamizi campaign set forward by the green party and some its members like Cleo Lake and the green party councillor for Lambeth Scott Ainslie. Mena Fombo is taking Bristol by storm by having discusses with the BBC to develop a permeant black owned and led city centre venue. It is clear that it is more important now than ever to educate people on the history of Bristol while also looking to the future, making sure everyone has a say and a place for them where they can go and be themselves.

However, the fight isn’t over. There is still much to do as there is a constant struggle to get funding. Jendayi Serwah has been quoted in the bristolcabel.org saying that Bristol’s black culture spaces have struggled to secure funding and support in the past. It’s clear that we need to make sure to make more space for diversity in Bristol and make sure it has the proper funding so it can thrive and live longer for the future generations that are to come. Not only does this need to happen in Bristol but all over the UK, too. The more inclusion the more diversity the more guarantee of peace and tolerance so we never have to see something like what happened to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless more.