Celebrating Lionel Morrison's legacy
The NUJ Black Members' Council (BMC) will host an event on 30 September to celebrate Lionel Morrison and the publication of his posthumous memoir.
A decade after Morrison's death, Footprints: A Black Journalist's Fight Against Apartheid in South Africa and in Exile tells the story of Morrison's remarkable career as a journalist, trade unionist, and campaigner against racism and Apartheid.
The event will pay homage to Morrison's extraordinary life: from his early activism in South Africa where he was arrested for high treason against the state and put on trial along with Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, to his work in the UK where he established some of the country’s first Black newspapers such as The Voice and the West Indian World.
Morrison was a dedicated trade unionist, helping to found the integrated South African National Union of Journalists. Having moved to the UK in 1961, Morrison became a member of the NUJ executive council in 1971. After helping establish the union's Black Members' Council, he was elected NUJ president in 1987 – the union’s first Black president. Much of his work was dedicated to increasing Black participation in journalism and trade unionism.
The memoir launch will take place at the NUJ’s office at Headland House on Wednesday 30 September from 6:30pm-8pm. It will feature Mathatha Tsedu, former South African editor and trade unionist; Liz Morrison, Lionel’s wife and co-writer of Footprints; Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary; Jim Boumelha, Francis Beckett, and Scarlett McGuire, former NUJ presidents, and will be chaired by Alex Pascall from the BMC. Refreshments will be available.
The book features a preface by journalist and author Gary Younge:
"Lionel Morrison always held that ‘double perspective’, constantly weaving what he had ‘left behind’ with the ‘here and now’ into an apparently seamless thread of struggle. He held it gently, proudly, without pomp or condescension and with an open and welcoming hand."
Book your tickets now and join us in celebrating Lionel Morrison's work, life, and legacy.
