Nerve Magazine - Rioting on the Wall

Rioting on the Wall

Kuumba Imani Centre
Saturday 7th May 2011

Photographs and review by Tracey Dunn

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Toxteth Riots and Writing on the Wall put on a commemorative day and night at the Kuumba Imani Centre in Liverpool 8. As an ambassador for Look11 Photography Festival I went to photograph the daytime events. There were 75 black and white photographs from the Toxteth uprising on a slideshow running all day in a darkened room upstairs where visitors helped choose 10 photos each in order of preference for an upcoming exhibition at the Slavery Museum in July.

To accompany the photographs was audio which included The Specials 'Ghost Town' which happened to be Number 1 in the week of the riots, the riotous soundtrack also played 'Warrior' by X RAY SPEX, The Clash 'Armageddon Time' and an audio from the actual riot itself "Toxteth is in flames". We saw pictures of the Rialto and the Racket Club burning and images of David Moore who died after being hit by a police van dispersing rioters.

Bonnie Greer talked about her new book on the black New York poet Langston Hughes "writer, communist and champion of victimised black youth". She also gave her views on current worldwide black politics. Bonnie told us she was glad to be out of London after the stress of local elections, AV votes and the Bin Laden/Obama situation.

Another large crowd stayed on for the later discussion "Back to the Future, Riots Then & Now". Maria O'Reilly founder of Liverpool 8 Defence Committee told us harrowing true stories of racism and police brutality which caused her to try and change bad police behaviour. Levi Tafari clued us up on the initial sparks which led to rioting and recited some moving poems. Kevin Sampson read from 'Stars are Stars' his novel about a fictitious heroin addict who found his reason for being as he knew the uprising had to be photographed and that he was the man to do it. Billy Hayes General seretary of the Communication Workers Union informed us,amongst other things,that there were only two black postmen in Liverpool at that time and finally Colin Prescod Chair of the Institute of Race Relations had come up from London to talk and talked about the empowering films he makes with children from multi racial and deprived areas. A question and answer session at the end was recorded for Radio Merseyside by Patrick Graham to be broadcast later. Thanks to all who worked hard on the day including Madeleine Heneghan,Nikki Blaze and Photographer Takiyah. Also many thanks to local DJ's and the legendary Don Letts who played at the Rebel Ball later that night.

Africa Oye in Sefton Park on the weekend of June 18-19th will be hosting photography workshops by LOOK11 at the Caravan Gallery. A real caravan in a field..so LOOK out for it!!