Join us for Artist Talk and Launch of publication Black Earth in collaboration with Fancy A Pint: Artist Talks

Black Earth: Resistance, Anti-racism and the Environment  is a powerful new publication born from the Jersey workshop led by nature writer and researcher Dr. Zakiya McKenzie. Join us for an evening of art, discussion, and community. Zakiya’s talk will explore her artistic and research practice, the inspirations behind the workshop, and the significance of fostering inclusive spaces for discussions about climate justice.

Dive into the booklet’s rich poetry, reflections on environmental justice, and creative contributions from workshop participants. Don’t miss this chance to engage with important conversations and take home a copy of Black Earth!

About Dr. Zakiya McKenzie:

Dr. Zakiya McKenzie is a writer, researcher, and cultural historian based in Bristol. Her work explores the intersections of colonialism, environmental justice, and the movement of plants between the Caribbean and Europe. She has a PhD in English from the University of Exeter on the history of Black British newsprint and is about to start a new role as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol. 

Her past residencies include Forestry England and Studio Voltaire. She has published several works, including her Rough Trade Books historical fiction pamphlet Testimonies on the History of Jamaica Vol. 1 that explores the natural and social history of Jamaica in 1655 – the year Britain took the colony of Jamaica from Spain. In 2023, she won the Olivette Otele Prize in Black British Studies for her paper ‘The Making of the Empire Windrush as a cultural motif’. Zakiya's writing has appeared in numerous anthologies including Radical Landscapes: Art, Identity and Activism (Tate, 2022) and Haunting Ashton Court: A Creative Handbook for Collective History-Making (2023).