In his new book, 'We Were There', Lanre Bakare explores the cultural history of Black Britain from 1979 to 1990, a period marked by political upheaval under Margaret Thatcher's premiership. During this time, race was a prevailing issue, yet Black British culture was also being shaped significantly. Bakare shares insights he gained about northern soul music, challenging the misconception that it was a predominantly white scene devoid of Black British participation. His research reveals how young migrants and their quest for belonging formed part of this vibrant subculture, highlighting often overlooked histories within Black Britain.
I was always told that northern soul, despite being a scene built on African American music, was a white movement and that Black British kids weren't really interested in it.
What I discovered was teenagers who were obsessed with mod culture, football and soul music; young migrants who, for various reasons, had left places such as St Kitts, Jamaica and Ghana and settled in northern towns and cities.
They were young people searching for a sense of belonging and northern soul gave that to them.
Whenever someone presents an assumption about Black Britain and the subcultures we've belonged to, you'll almost always find a counter-narrative of lives that have long been obscured.
Collection
[
|
...
]