Race Today
Encyclopedia
Race Today was a monthly (later bimonthly) British political magazine. Launched in 1969 by the Institute of Race Relations
, it was from 1973 published by the Race Today Collective, which included figures such as Darcus Howe
, Farrukh Dhondy
and Linton Kwesi Johnson
. The magazine was a leading organ of Black
politics in 1970s Britain; publication ended in 1988.
__toc__
. From 1973 onward, the monthly magazine was under the direction of a breakaway organisation, the Brixton
-based Race Today Collective. This body aimed for a political rather than scholarly approach, based on a combination of libertarian
Marxism
and radical anti-racism.
The magazine's first editor under the new leadership was journalist and broadcaster Darcus Howe
. Howe was much influencend by Trinidadian
Marxist C. L. R. James
, and under his tenure Race Today became a leading voice of Black political journalism in Britain. A compilation of Howe's arguments in Race Today appeared in a 1978 pamphlet titled The Road Make to Walk on Carnival Day.
Farrukh Dhondy
, later the author of a biography of C. L. R. James, began his writing career with Race Today in 1970. Another notable member of the Race Today Collective was Linton Kwesi Johnson
, who joined the group in 1974. His first book of poems appeared the same year under the Race Today imprint, and he later served as the magazine's arts editor. The publication and its editor feature prominently in the song Man Free (For Darcus Howe) on Linton Kwesi Johnson's 1978 debut album Dread Beat an' Blood
with his then band Poet and the Roots
.
In the mid-1970, the Race Today Collective allied with the Black Parents Movement formed by John La Rose
, who had been the chairman of the Institute of Race Relations in 1972 and 1973. In 1978, the magazine's publication frequency changed from monthly to bimonthly.
In 1985, Leila Hassan became the journal's editor; both the magazine and the Race Today Collective were discontinued in 1988. Described as "the most articulate organ of British Black politics in the 1970s", Race Today maintained close ties to the Notting Hill Carnival
.
Institute of Race Relations
The Institute of Race Relations is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1958 in order to publish research on race relations worldwide, and in 1972 was transformed into an 'anti-racist think tank'....
, it was from 1973 published by the Race Today Collective, which included figures such as Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe is a British broadcaster, writer, and civil liberties campaigner. Originally from Trinidad, he moved to America in the 1960s, then arrived in England intending to study law, where he joined the British Black Panthers, the first such branch of the organization outside the United States...
, Farrukh Dhondy
Farrukh Dhondy
Farrukh Dhondy is a British writer, playwright and activist of Indian Parsi descent.-Education:Dhondy obtained a BSc degree from University of Poona in India before winning a scholarship to Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1964 where he read Natural Sciences before switching to English...
and Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...
. The magazine was a leading organ of Black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
politics in 1970s Britain; publication ended in 1988.
__toc__
History
Race Today was established in 1969 by the Institute of Race RelationsInstitute of Race Relations
The Institute of Race Relations is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1958 in order to publish research on race relations worldwide, and in 1972 was transformed into an 'anti-racist think tank'....
. From 1973 onward, the monthly magazine was under the direction of a breakaway organisation, the Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
-based Race Today Collective. This body aimed for a political rather than scholarly approach, based on a combination of libertarian
Libertarian
Libertarian may refer to:*A proponent of libertarianism, a political philosophy that upholds individual liberty, especially freedom of expression and action*A member of a libertarian political party; including:**Libertarian Party...
Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and radical anti-racism.
The magazine's first editor under the new leadership was journalist and broadcaster Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe is a British broadcaster, writer, and civil liberties campaigner. Originally from Trinidad, he moved to America in the 1960s, then arrived in England intending to study law, where he joined the British Black Panthers, the first such branch of the organization outside the United States...
. Howe was much influencend by Trinidadian
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
Marxist C. L. R. James
C. L. R. James
Cyril Lionel Robert James , who sometimes wrote under the pen-name J.R. Johnson, was an Afro-Trinidadian historian, journalist, socialist theorist and essayist. His works are influential in various theoretical, social, and historiographical contexts...
, and under his tenure Race Today became a leading voice of Black political journalism in Britain. A compilation of Howe's arguments in Race Today appeared in a 1978 pamphlet titled The Road Make to Walk on Carnival Day.
Farrukh Dhondy
Farrukh Dhondy
Farrukh Dhondy is a British writer, playwright and activist of Indian Parsi descent.-Education:Dhondy obtained a BSc degree from University of Poona in India before winning a scholarship to Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1964 where he read Natural Sciences before switching to English...
, later the author of a biography of C. L. R. James, began his writing career with Race Today in 1970. Another notable member of the Race Today Collective was Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...
, who joined the group in 1974. His first book of poems appeared the same year under the Race Today imprint, and he later served as the magazine's arts editor. The publication and its editor feature prominently in the song Man Free (For Darcus Howe) on Linton Kwesi Johnson's 1978 debut album Dread Beat an' Blood
Dread Beat an' Blood
Dread Beat an' Blood is an album by Poet And The Roots released in 1978 on the Frontline label. It was produced by Vivian Weathers and Linton Kwesi Johnson. The Poet is dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and The Roots are Dennis Bovell, Jah Bunny, Desmond Craig, Winston Curniffe, Everald Forrest, Floyd...
with his then band Poet and the Roots
Poet And The Roots
Poet and the Roots are a reggae band formed to record dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson's poems with dub reggae backing tracks.Johnson released his later material under his own name, although some of the musicians from this group appeared on his subsequent albums....
.
In the mid-1970, the Race Today Collective allied with the Black Parents Movement formed by John La Rose
John La Rose
John La Rose was a political and cultural activist, poet, writer, publisher, and Chairman of the George Padmore Institute...
, who had been the chairman of the Institute of Race Relations in 1972 and 1973. In 1978, the magazine's publication frequency changed from monthly to bimonthly.
In 1985, Leila Hassan became the journal's editor; both the magazine and the Race Today Collective were discontinued in 1988. Described as "the most articulate organ of British Black politics in the 1970s", Race Today maintained close ties to the Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
.
External links
- Race Today at the Working Class Movement LibraryWorking Class Movement LibraryThe Working Class Movement Library is a collection of English language books, periodicals, pamphlets, archives and artefacts relating to the development of the political and cultural institutions of the working class which were created by the Industrial Revolution...
- Race Today at the George Padmore Institute