The John Blanke Project at Hammersmith and Fulham Culture and Black History 365 Network Meeting

Me with members of H&F. Experience , Culture and Black History 365 Network

Had a brilliant afternoon at Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s HQ - invitation to meet in person in the H&F Experience, Culture and Black History 365 Network. I’ve been presenting my Image of the Black talks to them online for the past two years, this was the first time I’d met them in person. 
 
My talks were always well received. I had the greatest compliment I could ever have following one of my talks to them. In the chat field someone wrote "You make me stand taller Michael and I  thank you for this and will savour this feeling" even now as I write this I remain humble and happy as there can be no greater compliment to any speaker than to make folk feel differently – connecting not just intellectually but emotionally. So, I always enjoying presenting to them they are always so receptive. To meet them in person was just as rewarding, if not even more so as they were all so enthusiastic about the things I care about, it became a ‘love-in’ for Black British History as we shared thoughts and ideas.
 
In fact, it was the first time they as a group itself had met physically for almost three years so the atmosphere was very much like a reunion. They and executives from H&F council and management made me very welcome. It was great to share the John Blanke Project as well as selling some John Blanke Project merchandise.  I was not the only presenter invited to  the event Mervyn  Wier was there with his book I Can’t Breath, as was  Avril Nanton, with her book – Black London: History, Art & Culture in Over. 120 Places and Paul Wilson author of Rocking the Boat, while singer Tiwa King guitarist Charles Shittu provided the musical backdrop to the event.
 
Michael Ohajuru
October 2022