A new community led play exploring the life of Manchester Boxing Legend Len Johnson, as a tool for challenging racial discrimination & celebrating positive local Black history is touring local schools.
After the worldwide movement and the Black Lives Matter campaign the Len Johnson story re-surfaced in Manchester.
The story has since been covered widely in the media by the likes of Sky sports BBC sport and ITV there is also a campaign to build a statue of Len in the city centre that has gained widespread support from the boxing community including former and current world champions such as Ricky Hatton, Anthony Joshua, Carl Frampton, Anthony Crolla, Tony Bellew and many more.
The play and workshop to be delivered to thousands of young people across Manchester to authentically address Black history and address racial inequalities.
The aim is that young people will walk away inspired and educated and have a better understanding of our collective history.
Odd Arts was approached by Lamin Touray, alongside other members of the Hulme and Moss Side community, to support (through theatre) their Len Johnson campaign; written with Curtis Cole from Odd Arts.
Len Johnson’s life story is something to be celebrated. Len responded as a fighter inside and outside of the ring in response to the struggles and barriers Len faced because of his skin colour.
