Black Solidarity

The contingent from the Mangrove, All Saints Road, North Kensington, on their way to join the march for sanctions against South Africa on 2 November 1985. In the background is a banner from the Tabernacle Community Centre. 150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.

Leaflet publicising a demonstration at the International Rugby Union’s centenary celebrations at Twickenham on 19 April 1986. The ‘rest of the world’ squad included several Springboks sponsored by the whites-only South African Rugby Board. The demonstration was organised by the AAM, SANROC and the British Black Conference against Apartheid Sport. There was also a demonstration in Cardiff, where the British Lions played a world squad on 16 April.

The AAM’s Multi-Faith Committee held a carol service in Trafalgar Square on 21 December 1986. The singing was led by the ANC and SWAPO choirs and the London Community Gospel Choir, and other groups gave readings on the situation in Namibia and South Africa. The event was sponsored by the four leading black London newspapers.

The AAM’s Black Solidarity Committee was set up in 1988 as the Black and Ethnic Minorities Committee. This introductory brochure set out facts about apartheid in South Africa and Namibia and called for support for the ANC and SWAPO. It asked people from black and ethnic minority communities to join the AAM and support its campaigns.

Cutting a birthday cake for Nelson Mandela at the Mangrove, All Saints Road in west London.

This Africa Liberation Day celebration was the first public event held by the AAM’s Black and Ethnic Minorities Committee. The highlight of the evening was a speech by Mozambican writer and FRELIMO activist Lina Magaia. A collection was made for the SWAPO Election Appeal Fund.

The AAM held its 1989 July National Committee meeting in the multi-racial area of Grangetown, Cardiff. Black and ethnic minority supporters took part in a special session at the meeting to discuss their role in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Poster advertising a meeting at the Hackney Empire Theatre, London on 4 February 1990, organised by the Parliamentary Black Caucus and the AAM.