Steve McQueen will produce two documentaries for the BBC that were conceived during the filming of Small Ax. One will examine the power of blacks in Britain, while the second film examines how black children were disproportionately sent to schools in the 1960s and 1970s for the so-called “educationally subnormal”.
Black Power (working title) is staged by BAFTA nominee George Amponsah (Hard Stop) and examines how the movement came about in the late 1960s when it fought against police brutality and racism. The film will feature rare footage of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael’s activities in the UK, as well as footage of leading figures in the movement in Britain, including Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Darcus Howe and Roy Sawh.
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Subnormal is led by new talent Lyttanya Shannon. It tells the story of the UK school scandal through the eyes of black parents, teachers and activists who have come together to expose injustice and force the education system to change.
The 60-minute films are being made by Lammas Park, Rogan Productions and Turbine Studios. They are produced by McQueen, James Rogan, Tracey Scoffield and Soleta Rogan, while the executive producer is Helen Bart. BBC Studios will distribute internationally.
McQueen said, “Looking back in time is an indication of what we have achieved today. These two documentaries show us how far we still have to travel for freedom and justice. “
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer added, “These are important stories from our recent history that continue to resonate today. Steve McQueen has put together a talented team of creatives to make these two documentaries that shed light on the experiences of young Black people from the 1960s and 1970s, sharing rare archives and allowing us to hear directly from key people, from whom many are speaking for the first time. ”
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