Features / CARGO
Inspiring revolutionaries star on latest Jamaica Street mural
Activist Jen Reid is among a small group standing proudly in front of a new Jamaica Street mural depicting the faces of inspiring revolutionaries.
The latest piece on the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft wall been created to highlight the work of CARGO Classroom, a project launched earlier this year to address the imbalance of historical perspectives currently covered in the curriculum.
Reid was immortalised as a statue after standing on the empty plinth of Edward Colston when it was toppled in June 2020. Her presence in front of the new mural, put up by Out of Hand, is a fitting reminder of the actions of inspiring revolutionaries past and present.
is needed now More than ever
She is joined by other Bristol activists and artists including poet Lawrence Hoo, who created CARGO Classroom, in collaboration with creative designer Chaz Golding, with support from Massive Attack, the University of Bristol, Arts Council England and others.
“After all they did and overcame, it allows me to honour them and say thank you and that feels special to me,” says Hoo, speaking about the mural depicting the four historical leaders from Africa and the African diaspora.
It features Nanny of the Maroons (1686-1733), the leader of slavery resistance in Jamaica, Sam Sharpe (1804-1832), the organiser of the Christmas Uprising in Jamaica, Paul Bogle (1820-1865), leader of the rebellion of enslaved people in Jamaica, and Dutty Boukman (died in 1791), a spiritual leader and instigator of the Haitian uprising. Each of their stories are covered in the first four lessons included in CARGO Classroom.
Jen Reid recreates the stance she did on the empty plinth in front of the mural on Jamaica Street – photo by Khali Photography
CARGO is designed to meet the urgent need for digital learning resources and has been created in collaboration with teachers and assembled with the guidance of the School of Education at the University of Bristol.
Hoo says his team is currently working on the next four lessons, which are due to be ready by the end of April.
Al Doggart, Josephine Gyasi, Jen Reid, Lawrence Hoo, Gary Thompson and Cade Hoo stand in front of the new mural – photo by Khali Photography
Read more: Launch of CARGO Classroom to illuminate inspiring untold stories
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