COLOURISM 2025

Southampton Solent University:

E Park Terrace, Southampton, SO14 0YN - Oct 1st - 31st

Southampton Central Library:

Civic Centre Southampton, SO14 7LW - Oct 1st - 31st

Shirley Library:

Shirley Precinct, Southampton, SO15 5LL - Oct 1st - 31st

Woolston Library:

Centenary Quay, Victoria Road, Woolston, Southampton SO19 9EF - Oct 1st - 31st

Southampton General Hospital:

Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD - Oct 1st - 31st

MAST Mayflower Studios:

Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU - Oct 1st - 31st

October Books:

189 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF

Barton Peveril Sixth Form College:

Sixth Form College, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 5ZA

- Dates to be confirmed

God’ House Tower:

Town Quay, Road, Southampton SO14 2NY

- Dates to be confirmed

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PORTRAITS

A range of portraits were taken by the photographer, Nosa Malcolm.

https://nosamalcolm.com

Dr. Abdoulie Sanneh. CCDO

I was born in the Gambia to black parents. I was the first in our family to attend school. I came to Southampton in 2002 to study MSc in Health Education and health promotion and proceeded to complete my PhD at Southampton University. My wife and I have 1 boy and 3 girls born at The Princess Anne Hospital. Our entire family are black African Muslim and we are proud to be black.

Lou Taylor

I was born in London and now live in Hampshire. Both of my parents migrated from Nigeria in the early 1950s as part of the drive to fill employment places in the NHS and railways. They both remained in the UK until 1973. I would describe myself as Black, African, Nigerian, or Black British depending on who's asking.

Ivan Dellimore

I was born in Southampton in 1958. Both of my parents migrated from St Vincent in the Caribbean in 1957 and were part of the so called Windrush Generation. They lived in Southampton up until 1983 then retired back to St Vincent. I'm proud to describe myself as Black.

Helen Jackson

My parents were born in Grenada and my mother was part of the Windrush Generation in 1960. I was born in Grenada, and I came to the UK in1970 to study nursing in the field of Haemoglobinopathy (Sickle cell & Thalassaemia) to become the first counsellor in Southampton in 1993. I consider myself to be Black.

Sharon John

Both parents are from St Vincent, and I was born in Southampton, and I lived in the Black community in the inner city. I went to The Deanery school in St Marys which had a significant number of Black pupils. I describe myself as Black.

Romany Muirhead

I am a first generation mixed heritage child of Jamaican and English descent. My father is an immigrant from the Windrush generation and my Mother is English with Welsh maternal roots. I am equally comfortable with the terms, Black or Dual Ethnicity as a way to describe my identity.

Ali Khobzi

I was born in Morocco. My father came to the UK in the late 60’s working in different cities across the south. My mother and I joined him in Southampton in the mid 70’s. I would describe myself as Black.

Judith Saunders

Both my parents are Jamaican and always lived in Jamaica. I was born in Jamaica in 1974, came to Southampton in 1996, and am the second eldest of four children. I definitely identify myself as Black, although going to school I was one of the lighter skin pupils. Nonetheless, I never felt at any time that I wasn’t black enough by my friends and families. I am very proud to be Black.

Helena Boyce

My Mother is Irish and my Father is from St Lucia. My Father came to England at the age of 11 in the 60’s and is part of the Windrush Generation. I was born in Portsmouth in 1977 and I am the youngest of 3 with 2 older brothers. Yes, I absolutely identify and would describe myself as Black. Growing up in an almost completely ‘white space’ I was the only girl that looked like me. I was the black kid and received enough abuse and bullying to understand that despite my light complexion, I was never ‘white enough’. I am Black and Proud!

Kobe Stavonhagen

I was born in Southampton. On my mother’s side, my grandad is the son of an African American WW2 soldier who was stationed in England during the 40s. My grandma came over to England from Kingston, Jamaica in the 60s. On my father‘s side I have German and Chinese heritage. I would describe myself as part-Black. I have always felt very Jamaican and proud to be. Even whilst being very light skinned compared to them I have never felt out of place or different just for the colour of my skin.

COLOURISM LAUNCH EVENT

The Colourism project sought to engage members of the public via a month long exhibition at Southampton Central Library, as well as two smaller exhibitions at Shirley Library and Woolston Library. A launch party was held at Central Library at the beginning of October and was extremely well attended.

Special thanks to:

Southampton City Council

Allison Walker. Reading and Resources Development Officer / Culture and Tourism / Directorate for Growth & Prosperity.

Siobhan McGarrigle. Reading, Young People and Area Manager Libraries / Culture and Tourism Service / Directorate for Growth and Prosperity

SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY

The Colourism project sought to engage with a younger audience via a month long exhibition at Solent University, in the main lobby area.

A film was also played at regular intervals during the month on a large monitor screen.

To round off the month staff and students were invited to join a talk about the Colourism exhibition with several guest speakers.

Special thanks to:

Solent University

Joanne Cridland: Communities Engagement Officer

From Southampton Solent University Linkedin page...

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed staff and students to join us for a conversation about the Colourism exhibition, which we are proud to have displayed on campus throughout October as part of hashtag#BlackHistoryMonth.

We were joined by honorary doctorate, Don John, photographer Nosa Malcolm, Anthony Smith, Helena Boyce and Dr. Abdoulie Sanneh. Our thanks to our inspiring speakers, and those who attended, for bringing important conversations to campus.
Universities are anchors in their communities; places where people can connect. We are delighted to have brought people together this Black History Month, and will continue to do so.

Southampton Solent University Linkedin posts

SOUTHAMPTON LIBRARIES

Exhibitions were held in Southampton Central Library, Shirley Library and Woolston Library.

The materials were flexible in the sense that we were able to tailor the exhibition to the given space.

Special thanks to:

Southampton Libraries

Siobhan McGarrigle: Reading, Young People and Area Manager Libraries

Allison Walker: Reading and Resources Development Officer

Southampton Central Library

Shirley Library

Woolston Library

SOUTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL

To launch the exhibition at Southampton General Hospital the Chair, Jenni Douglas Todd, visited the Colourism Exhibition where it was situated in the main entrance. Jenni met with Don John, Black History Month South founder, to discuss the background and content of the exhibition.

Special thanks to:

Southampton General Hospital

University Hospital Southampton

Ceri Connor: Director of Organisational Development and Inclusion

Amy Long: Business Support-Organisational Development and Inclusion

Donna Parish: Business Support-Organisational Development and Inclusion

MAST MAYFLOWER THEATRE

Or exhibition at the MASK Mayflower had a great response. This included coverage from the BBC.

Special thanks to:

Mast/Mayflower Studios

Katie Spencer: Outreach Programme Leader

Katie Muncer: Community Manager

OCTOBER BOOKS

A Colourism exhibition was held at October Books.

Don John presented a talk as part of Study in Colourism exhibition at October Books.

Colourism – a prejudice in which Black or Brown people with darker skin experience disadvantages compared with those with lighter complexions.

Special thanks to:

October Books

Clare Diaper: Strategic Lead

How October Books used social media to publicise the event.

ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND FILM

Arts Council England sent down an Advocation and Communications Officer to make a film using A Study in Colourism to promote the benefits of public investment in arts and culture.

Special thanks to:

Arts Council England

Helena Zeider. Advocation and Communications Officer

COLOURISM - Arts Council Film

Arts Council England Facebook page.

Arts Council England Instagram page.

ITV NEWS COVERAGE

ITV sent a film crew down to cover one of the exhibitions at Solent University. They interviewed the curator, Don John, the photographer, Nosa Malcolm, as well as some of the models featured.

Special thanks to:

Rachel Hepworth. Presenter. ITV Meridian.

Kate Taylor.

Adam Clark.

COLOURISM Exhibition ITV News Coverage.

BBC COVERAGE

Colourism BBC television coverage

We received coverage on BBC news, as well as extensive coverage on the BBC website.

Shadism - Historical Film

Shadism: The Politics of Complexion

Shadism: The Politics of Complexion

COLOURISM PROMOTIONAL FILM

Special thanks to:

Nosa Malcom. Photographer

Anthony Smith & Martin Jeyes: Creative Directors

Colourism Exhibition Film, landscape long

THE BROWN PAPER BAG TEST

As part of the exhibitions we encouraged people to take the ‘Brown Paper Bag Test’. This was a 20th century African American discriminatory practice where an individual’s skin tone was compared to the colour of a brown paper bag… to determine their privileges. For example, you were only allowed in certain establishments if your skin tone matched or was lighter than a brown paper bag.

JOHN HANSARD GALLERY

The John Hansard Gallery fully supported the exhibitions through its social media platforms.

Leaflets and other promotional materials were also available in the gallery itself.

John Hansard Gallery - Facebook

John Hansard - X

John Hansard Gallery - Instagram

PROMOTIONAL IMAGES

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DON JOHN

Don John Biography:

Don John has been working in the field of Race & Diversity for over 40 years. Having spent 10 years in HM Treasury in Whitehall he then moved to Southampton to work as a Youth and Education officer for the Southampton Council for Race Equality; working with Black and Asian youth with specific reference to the criminal justice system and racism in the education services. He then advanced to the position of the Director of the SCRE and oversaw the foundation of race policies that underpinned the city’s policies on race discrimination and racial harassment. He later secured a position as the lead Race & Diversity officer for Southampton City Council and was involved in developing the city’s diversity policies. Don is particularly proud to have been a founder of the Rainbow project, initially designed to house young homeless Black men and The James Wiltshire Trust which campaigned to secure better services for Black people in mental health services in the region. Don was also the founder of Black History Month in Southampton which has now been established as a core event in the city’s calendar and is seen as one of the most progressive in the UK. He is also co-author of a book called “The Black History of Southampton 16th Century to 21st Century which is a significant reference book charting the presence of Black people in the city for over 500 years and the follow up book “Black Stories”. He is now leading on a Black Archives programme in the city in collaboration with other organisations. Don is also the Director of Don John Consultants for over 30 years and has provided consulting services for other local authorities, police services, the army and navy throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. He has also been a consultant for ITV, BBC and independent film companies. Don is also a filmmaker and has made several short documentaries all with a “race” dimension. He was also a producer for a film about Ebony Rockers which was recently awarded Best Music Film at the Portobello Film Festival. He has also been involved in the music industry having secured a contract with EMI for a group of Southampton young black people in the 80s called “Ebony Rockers” that included the father of Craig David. Don also presents local shows on Voice FM “Soul Train” & "Night Moves" Reggae show which is a mixture of music and social comment. He has curated exhibitions on subject matters of "Afro-Futurism" and "The History of Blues Parties in Southampton”, and “Black: The Graphic Novel”. Don also has a special interest in Cultural Diversity in the Arts and has been the creator of photo exhibitions relating to Black communities and has worked with several Art galleries in the region. He was also a Southampton ambassador for Southampton’s bid to win City of Culture 2025 and was recently awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts at Solent University.

Further information about Don’s work can be found on: www.donjohn.co.uk