London’s Agitators and Protesters for Equality 1880s-1980s

Londoners have been engaged in collective struggles for equality in many spheres – economic, political, and social. They have:

• fought in the workplace to reduce the wealth gap
• taken to the streets to win equal rights for women
• campaigned for legal equality for gays and lesbians
•  battled for racial equality against those sowing hatred and division
• campaigned for improved health and housing for all
• taken solidarity action here to support fights for equality internationally.

This course will provide information and tell stories from from a selection of these struggles that took place over a 100 year period from the 1880s to the 1980s – from the struggles of women making matches in the Bryant and May factory to the mass protests against apartheid outside South Africa House. It will attempt to illuminate how these struggles began, what they were trying to achieve, how they recruited supporters and activists and what they did.

It will be taught on a thematic basis through interactive classroom sessions using paired and group discussions drawing on written and visual materials, including archive materials from the Humanist Library which relate to these struggles for equality

2nd February – 9th March 2017 6:30-8:30pm (every Thursday for 6 weeks)

Course price: £85 standard, £65 concessions

Please note that unfortunately Conway Hall’s Library is not wheelchair accessible.

Biography of course provider

David Rosenberg is an educator, writer, teacher trainer and tour guide. He is the author of Battle for the East End (Five leaves Publications, 2011) and Rebel Footprints: a guide to uncovering London’s radical history (Pluto Press, 2015) and co-author of Contemporary Slavery Teachers’ Resource (International Slavery Museum, 2012).

He taught in an inner London primary school for 22 years, and in recent years has taught adults through Conway Hall, City Lit and the Bishopsgate institute, and has organised day events on historical themes at the London Metropolitan Archives. He has led guided walks on London radical history since 2007. (www.eastendwalks.com)