Catalogue Number
NMLH.2024.71.8
Object Name
poster
Title
'United Nations International Anti-Racist Day - March 21st. United Nations International Anti-Racist Day. March 21st 7pm-10pm. Friends House (opposite Euston Station) London NW1. [...] London Against Racism. Keep GLC Working for London.'
Place
London, South Africa
People
United Nations (UN), Greater London Council (GLC), Ken Livingstone, Labour Party, African National Congress (ANC), Oliver Tambo, Johnny Matzkiza (play write)
Events
United Nations International Anti-Racist Day (March 21st), Sharpville Massacre, abolition of Greater London Council (1986)
Description
A large image in black and white of a central figure with outstretched arms holding three other figures. All four figures are gazing directly at the viewer. Red text above the image says, 'United Nations International Anti-Racist Day - March 21st'. Below the image is text detailing the location and program of events for the day. At the bottom of the poster are the London Against Racism and GLC's 'Keep GLC working for London' logos.
This poster is advertising a Greater London Council (GLC) event marking the United Nations International Anti-Racist Day, which took place on March 21st. The GLC events involved a performance of Johnny Matzkiza's play 'Sharpville', about the Sharpville Massacre which was a mass killing of Black South Africans that took place in South Africa under apartheid rule, and lectures by speakers including Oliver Tambo, who was president of the African National Congress (ANC), an anti-apartheid South African political party which had been banned in South Africa as a terrorist organisation, with many members living in the UK while in exile. The event took place at Friends House, a Quaker meeting house in central London. Following the end of apartheid rule in South Africa, the ANC became the ruling party under President Nelson Mandela.
The left wing administration of the GLC under the Labour Party's Ken Livingstone developed a reputation for strong policies supporting London's minority communities, including Black, Asian and other marginalised race communities. The policies and beliefs of the GLC, and funding they provided to support marginalised people, often contradicted the Conservative government's policies and priorities. The Conservative government eventually used spending on issues relating to minority groups as part of their campaign to abolish the GLC, which they successfully did in 1986. The government's plan to abolish the GLC is referenced in the 'Keep GLC working for London' logo on the poster.
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