Black Heroes in Motion_ British Television History

Black Heroes in Motion is a project that aims to highlight the contributions of black professionals in British television. It is based on the book "Black in the British Frame" by Stephen Bourne, who is an expert on black British film and television history. The project includes an interactive timeline and access to Bourne's personal archive. They are also collecting data and content on black-themed British television produced since 2001. The project goes beyond just names and dates and explores the nuances of black British television history. They engage with the public through annual video tributes and a hall of fame. The goal is to become the central hub for online content related to black British television history and ensure that these stories are heard and celebrated. It reminds us of the importance of giving attention to untold stories in media and history. We all grew up watching TV, but how much do we really know about the people who make those shows possible? Right. And I bet most people don't realize how much black professionals have shaped British television. Yeah. I mean, it's a history that deserves way more attention than it gets, so that's what we're doing today. Diving deep into a really cool project called Black Heroes in Motion. Okay. Black Heroes in Motion. I like it already. It sounds exciting. Yeah. And it's actually built on this amazing book, Black in the British Frame, which was written by Stephen Bourne, who's like a leading expert on black British film and television history. Wow. Yeah. He's actually Screen Nation's official historian. Oh, wow. And so this project is taking his book, which covers like a whole century of black experiences in British TV and film, and they're bringing it into the digital age. Okay. So taking it from like page to platform. Exactly. I like it. Yeah. It's really cool. They're creating this interactive timeline. Oh, cool. And they're trying to explore key moments and figures in black British television history. Visually see how it all kind of unfolds. Yeah, exactly. So you can see the whole journey and how things evolved. And they're also making Stephen Bourne's personal archive available, which is full of all this like unpublished stuff and exclusive images. Wow. It's like a treasure trove. So it's not just like a history lesson, but it's really going behind the scenes too. Exactly. Now, I read that they're also like collecting data and content on black themed British television produced since 2001. Yeah. Why is that period so important? Well, because his book, Black in the British Frame, only covered up to 1996. Oh, okay. So they want to continue the story from there. So basically they're making it a living archive. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So it can constantly evolve. Yeah. Makes sense. Yeah. So going back to Stephen Bourne's book for a second, what were some of the things that really stood out to you when you read it? Well, first of all, he really highlights some remarkable people. Like for instance, Earl Cameron, he was a pioneer back in the 1950s. He was one of the first black actors to really make a name for himself on British television. Oh, wow. Yeah. And I mean, he faced a lot of challenges back then, obviously, but he like paved the way for so many others. Really interesting. And then there's Rudolph Walker. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Who you probably know from Love Thy Neighbor, which was this groundbreaking sitcom in the 70s. But at the same time, it caused a lot of debate about how it portrayed race relations. And Stephen Bourne delves into that and kind of explores all the triumphs and the struggles that black actors faced back then. Wow. Yeah. So it seems like this project, Black Heroes in Motion, is really going beyond just names and dates. Oh, yeah. And really trying to get into the nuance of this whole history. Exactly. Yeah. What else are they doing to engage with the public? Well, they have a bunch of cool ideas. But one thing they're doing is producing these annual video tributes to veteran black British TV professionals. Wow. What a great idea. Yeah. I think it'll be amazing. They'll get their perspective. Their insights. Their stories. Exactly. It's going to be great. And they're also creating a hall of fame. Oh, wow. To really celebrate these people's work and their contributions. That's a fantastic idea. It's amazing to see a project looking at the past, but also towards the future. Yeah. What's the big picture goal? What kind of impact do they hope to have? Well, ultimately, they want to become the central hub for online content related to black British television history. Oh, wow. They're working with the BFI and BAFTA, trying to get everyone to collaborate and make sure this important part of British culture is documented. Such a clear mission. It really makes you realize how much history is out there just waiting to be explored. What do you think is the most important thing for our listeners to remember about this project? Well, I think it's just the importance of giving these stories the attention they deserve. For so long, the contributions of black professionals in British television have been overlooked. Yeah. And Black Heroes in Motion is trying to change that. They're making sure these stories are heard and celebrated. I love that. And it really makes you wonder what other areas of media history, or even history in general, are hiding these untold stories. Yeah. It's a good reminder to always look for those diverse voices and perspectives when we're learning about the past. Absolutely. Well, this has been an amazing deep dive. Thanks for joining me. Thank you for having me. And to our listeners, we'll see you next time on The Deep Dive.