Detailed piece on the history of the iconic New Beacon Books.
“As the only outlet for Black literature and one of the only places young Black writers could get their work published, New Beacon soon became a catalyst for groups including the Caribbean Artist Movement and the Black Parents Movement, which campaigned against racist police brutality. It was also at the centre of the Black Education Movement and the Black Supplementary School Movement.
“John La Rose, who died in 2006 aged 78, was instrumental in organising protests following the New Cross house fire in 1981 that killed 13 young Black people.
“In 1982, New Beacon Books and its partner organisations founded the annual International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, at a time when education providers and the general public were struggling to find books and other education resources by Black authors.
“La Rose also helped set up the European Action for Racial Equality and Social Justice in the 1990s, bringing together anti-racists and anti-fascists from Belgium, Italy, France and Germany to fight rising fascism.
“Established Caribbean writers including Mervyn Morris, Sir Wilson Harris, CLR James and John Jacob Thomas all published work through New Beacon Books.”
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Detailed piece on the history of the iconic New Beacon Books.
“As the only outlet for Black literature and one of the only places young Black writers could get their work published, New Beacon soon became a catalyst for groups including the Caribbean Artist Movement and the Black Parents Movement, which campaigned against racist police brutality. It was also at the centre of the Black Education Movement and the Black Supplementary School Movement.
“John La Rose, who died in 2006 aged 78, was instrumental in organising protests following the New Cross house fire in 1981 that killed 13 young Black people.
“In 1982, New Beacon Books and its partner organisations founded the annual International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, at a time when education providers and the general public were struggling to find books and other education resources by Black authors.
“La Rose also helped set up the European Action for Racial Equality and Social Justice in the 1990s, bringing together anti-racists and anti-fascists from Belgium, Italy, France and Germany to fight rising fascism.
“Established Caribbean writers including Mervyn Morris, Sir Wilson Harris, CLR James and John Jacob Thomas all published work through New Beacon Books.”