Acknowledgements and Background to the Study

The Ulster People’s College (UPC) was established in 1982. It seeks to contribute, through education, training and development, to a just, democratic and non-sectarian society with improved social and economic conditions and participation for those who have been disadvantaged and excluded.

The UPC aims to provide education and training that encourages adult participation in learning across Northern Ireland.  For further information see www.ulsterpeoplescollege.org.uk.

The South Belfast Roundtable on Racism was established in January 2004 by the South Belfast Partnership Board, in conjunction with the Chinese Welfare Association and the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, as a response against the rising trend of racist attacks in South Belfast.

This initiative brought together representatives from minority ethnic groups, local community, church, political leaders, and representatives of key statutory bodies with an interest in addressing racism in South Belfast in a positive and proactive way.

The mission of the Roundtable is to “work in partnership to support actions to eliminate racism in South Belfast”.

It aims to;

• facilitate information-sharing and discussions amongst all relevant South Belfast stakeholders – at both formal and less formal levels;

• develop and participate in a strategic educational process in South Belfast that will promote improved mutual understanding, contact, interaction and cohesiveness;

• develop and implement a communications strategy that will effectively tackle, challenge and/or manage racism-related (and potentially crisis) situations in South Belfast;

• work collaboratively with other relevant stakeholders in South Belfast to present positive images of inclusion through highlighting examples of good anti-racist practice

The Roundtable is helping to break down barriers by providing a forum for groups to exchange information and discuss issues central to tackling racism.

The development of better communication, co-operation and action within and between communities is central to its future success.  Members of the Roundtable recognise the important role, which minority ethnic groups play in the social and economic fabric of NI society generally and in south Belfast specifically.

The Roundtable on Racism is working in South Belfast to ensure that all its citizens feel that they have an equal share in the community and that each citizen is equally valued. It believes that racism should be eliminated wherever and however it occurs, whether in the form of racial discrimination, racial harassment or violence.

Abolition of Slavery Study Group

To mark the Bicentennial of the Abolition of Slavery Act a group of community workers, South Belfast Roundtable on Racism and the Ulster Peoples College have worked together to produce an exhibition on the Abolition of Slavery which focuses on Belfast’s role in this time period.

The group participated in a programme of structured research, study and discussion during which they addressed questions such as what did the citizens of Belfast do to challenge the institution of slavery?  Who benefited in Ireland from slavery?  What are the current issues for the citizens of Belfast today?

Group members conducted independent research and produced the material which has been collated to form this exhibition.

They hope to raise questions about what slavery has meant in the past, what it means in its present forms and how it can be challenged.

Thanks are due to:

Community workers who participated in the study group and who put much time into submitting material for the exhibition.  They are

From the Chinese Welfare Association
Leish Cox

From Donegall Pass Community Forum
Ken Orr
Elaine Mansfield

From Donegall Pass Community Centre
Henri Mohammed

From Springfield Inter-Community Development Project
Lekan Lekan Ojo-Okiji Abasi

From NICRAS
Moira McCombe
Chris Napier

South Belfast Roundtable On Racism and the Ulster Peoples College co-ordinated the Project - in the persons of (respectively): Denise Wright and Karen McCartney.

Hugh Odling-Smee from the Linenhall Library provided advice, information and resources.

Dr. Eamon Phoenix, historian and journalist provided advice and information.

Grace McGrath from PRONI provided advice.

The project was made possible through funding provided by:

the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister;
Northern Ireland Community Relations Council;
the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust