Deepest Red

Remembering John La Rose

When the writer, activist and publisher John La Rose died nearly a year ago, it sent shockwaves through sections of the literary community. Many, that ha been around a while were greatly saddened by the death of this inspirational figure. But for everyone that is conscious of what a sad loss his death was, there are many younger figures totally unaware of this great man and his legacy. Great news then that one year on a series of tribute events have been planned to celebrate his life.

So who was John La Rose? ‘The elder statesman of Britain’s black communities,’ said close friend Linton Kwesi Johnson paying tribute to him in the Guardian newspaper. ‘The most remarkable human being I have ever known.’ Next month Linton will be performing alongside actress Dona Croll and writers Caryl Phillips and Ngugi wa Thiongo at an all day event celebrating John La Rose’s life. This is the first of two key memorial events. In March various stars will line up alongside Linton Kwesi Johnson and the Dennis Bovell Dub Band to pay tribute. Jazz greats Randy Weston and TK Blue, jazz poet Jayne Cortez and reggae poet Jean 'Binta' Breeze are already confirmed to perform.

Born in Trinidad in 1927 John La Rose left school and became an activist in various cultural and political organizations. His interest in music, literature and folk language were always just as important to him as his commitment to politics. To him the two were interrelated – part of his personal ‘vision of change’.

After a spell in Venezuela he moved to Britain in the ‘60s. In 1966 he founded New Beacon Books, the first Caribbean Publishers in Britain and one that grew to have an international reputation. In the same year, alongside Jamaican writer Andrew Salkey and the Barbadian poet and historian Kamau Brathwaite, he helped found the Caribbean Artist’ Movement. It was an organization that was to help launch the career of a whole number of black artists, writers and film-makers in Britain.

Concerned about the fact that West Indian children were being placed in schools for the educationally sub-normal, he also set up supplementary schools for black children. A committed campaigner, this was just one of the many community issues that he became involved in. In 1991, recognizing the need to chart Black History in Britain he co-founded the George Padmore Institute to act as an archive and education centre.

But it was as the founder of the Black Book Fair that ran from 1982 to 1995 that he really made his mark. Attracting audiences from all over Europe, the book fair, which he labeled, ‘a meeting of the continents’ for writers, publishers, artists and filmmakers, showcased black writers and hosted discussions, talks, films, dance shows.

In 1982, he was instrumental in founding the movement Africa Solidarity to support those struggling against dictatorships in Africa. He also became chairman the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya, whose founding members included the Kenyan novelist Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
Though often preferring to stay in the background, he was a talented artist himself – as his two volumes of poetry, Foundations and Eyelets of Truth Within Me showed.
Publisher Margaret Busby perhaps sums up best what he meant to other black artists when she says: ‘We never imagined the time when he would not be around. For many of us, it seemed there had never been a period he was not in our lives, teaching, encouraging, leading, sharing, campaigning, supporting, inspiring.... As much as for his intellectual brilliance and political commitment, John La Rose will be remembered for the warmth of his personality, his generosity, and his ever-present smile.'

*Celebrating John La Rose and 40 years of New Beacon Books. 3 February at Purcell Room, South Bank Centre South London SE1. Tickets: 0870 401 8181.


*A Musical Tribute to John La Rose, featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson, Dennis Bovell and the Dub Band and other artists: Sunday March 2007 at Camden Centre Tickets: 0207 272 4889 e: newbeaconbooks@btconnect.com

posted by Andrea Enisuoh @ 1:03 PM