Baldwin’s Nigger (1969)

In 1969, photographer and filmmaker Horace Ové released Baldwin’s Nigger. This short film documented American Intellectual James Baldwin in conversation with Comedian and Activist Dick Gregory in front of an audience of Londoners in Brixton, mostly of Afro-Caribbean heritage.

The film was shot in a ‘plain verite’ style – because of the audience make-up and Baldwin’s own background the conversation is open and there is very little self-censorship. Baldwin presents a provocative account, drawing on his personal experiences, and the resulting dialogue is extremely candid and open about the situation for Black people in Britain and the United States at that time. The conversation that is played out in the film and the questions and concerns addressed are still relevant in today’s society.

On 22 August, from 6pm until 8pm, Photographer and Filmmaker Horace Ové will be present for a Q&A with audience members, following Balwin’s Nigger Film Sceening.

To lend further context to the film and its relationship to contemporary society, we have invited Professor Paul Warmington to be in conversation with Baldwin’s Nigger Reloaded lead project artist Barby Asante.