roots initiative

The Roots Initiative is a project run by identity on tyne to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of transatlantic slavery, and the part the North East played in this significant moment in history. A Parliamentary Bill passed on March 25, 1807, heralded the beginning of a process that would eventually shut down the slave trade across the British Empire - a process in which the North East played a key role.
 
There were anti-slavery societies in Newcastle, Durham and Northumberland which petitioned Parliament, while Quaker women, such as Ellen and Anna Henry Richardson helped to free individual slaves like Frederick Douglas.
 

Aims of the Roots Initiative

It is important for BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) individuals and for the region as a whole that we know the extent of the North East's involvement in the slave trade and the abolition movement. 
 
The aim is to learn from the past, honour those who were part of the struggle and move forward into the future with this knowledge, better equipped to tackle forms of modern-day slavery. 
 
As part of this, the Roots Initiative aims to develop and support black literature in the North East. Through commissioning artists and running workshops and events, we hope to create an inclusive and diverse poetry scene in the North East. It aims are to: 

• explore through creative means how the North East was involved in the trade and abolition of slavery
• bring to life hidden and silent voices via new pieces of artwork 
• support artists to fulfil their potential in producing and presenting their work to an audience
• promote understanding across all cultures and communities within the North East, and work together with this legacy to aid future endeavours in the artistic development of identity on tyne.

Roots Initiative events and projects
 
EXCAVATE ROOTS
The Literary and Philosophical Society's Writer in Residence Sheree Mack is exploring the Society’s tracts to excavate the past and discover our shared narratives around the region’s involvement in the slave trade and its abolition. She will disseminate her findings through public workshops and readings, and via new pieces of work.
 
As part of this, identity on tyne is running a postcard campaign throughout 2007. Each month a postcard will carry a different image that links a place in the North East with the slave trade and abolition. The facts surrounding each connection can be found on the back of the card, along with the poem, titled ‘Sena, a slave girl’, which follows the misfortunes of one individual’s experience of slavery through the 12 different postcards.

These postcards will be collectors' items and are available from local arts and heritage venues, such as Discovery Museum and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, local libraries and meeting places through the five boroughs of the North East, reaching into Northumberland and Middlesbrough.
 
A MASQUE OF ROOTS
A Masque of Roots will use new work created during the Lit & Phil residency and workshops as the basis for a musical performance, in collaboration with a composer, community orchestra and choir. 
 
Identity on tyne is running workshops, directed at the North East's emerging communities of refugees and asylum seekers, that surround the themes and issues of the Roots Initiative. This is an opportunity for individuals to work on their own creative pieces that will be showcased as part of the musical performance. 
For details, contact iD on Tyne >>

MAPPED ROOTS
Mapped Roots will see the creation of a 'slave trail' that maps the buildings and places within the North East that have been associated with slavery and its abolition in collaboration with the Lit & Phil Society’s historical group, the Writer in Residence and a commissioned artist. 
[Awaiting funding decision]
 
FEED ROOTS
identity on tyne will pilot an outreach project working with BME writers within the region to mentor, develop and extend their horizons. The project will assess the needs of community and cultural groups as well as high schools in the region, and will result in a series of workshops, presentations and readings to inspire and galvanise the grassroots of culturally diverse literature in the North East.
 
The first outing will be a part of Teesside Winter Festival, Middlesbrough. For details, contact iD on Tyne >>  

TAKE ROOTS
The aim of Take Roots is to encourage established BME writers to become more rooted within their discipline and in the region. At the same time, this project aims to encourage the writers to think about their messages and audiences.
 
To this end, iD on Tyne is running a series of six masterclasses on the themes of themes of ‘home’ and ‘diaspora', from January to June, led by Anthony Joseph, an avant-garde poet and prose writer from Trinidad.
The workshops are now full.

Following this, and open to participants in the Feed Roots project, will be a publication by identity on tyne to commemorate the bicentenary anniversary, with a launch reading in October 2007. Keep an eye on the Events page of this website.