Home Is Not A Place

Home Is Not A Place delves into the intricate layers of Black British identity in the 21st century, weaving a narrative that challenges conventional notions of 'home'. This poignant examination invites readers to consider how history, culture, and personal experiences shape the understanding of belonging within Black Britain.

The Plot

In 2021, poet Roger Robinson and photographer Johny Pitts set out in a red Mini Cooper to follow the British coast clockwise, from the Thames at Tilbury, where the Empire Windrush docked in 1948, through Margate, Land's End, Blackpool, Glasgow and John O'Groats. The book they made from that journey is a free-form composition of photography, poetry and essays, uncovering Black British culture long overlooked in official narratives and the history of Empire and transatlantic slavery that binds every Briton.

Themes

• Identity and Belonging: The narrative confronts the question of what it means to belong in a society that often marginalises Black voices.
• History and Memory: The exploration of personal and collective histories reveals how the past influences contemporary experiences.
• Community and Connection: The importance of solidarity and shared experiences within the Black British community is emphasised throughout.

Readers interested in Black British history and culture will find Home Is Not A Place resonant and thought-provoking, offering a rich exploration of identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world.