For the artist and film director acts of protest were as much a part of growing up as playing in the local park. Here he recalls his first encounters with activismMy first encounter with resistance was unbeknownst to me, and I was annoyed by it. At nine years old, I found myself attending Saturday school, missing Football Focus and not being with my friends playing in the local park. First my sister and I went to the Marcus Garvey Saturday school in Hammersmith. Later we went to the Saturday school in Acton, organised by Mr Carter. He was a light-skinned Black man with slightly ginger hair and freckles, bearing a strange resemblance to Jimmy Carter, who was the president of the United States.The sole purpose of the Saturday school was to help Black children who were underachieving or being failed by the education system. At that time, I didn’t know that these facilities were organised throughout the United Kingdom by Black parents, teachers and academics. In 1971, a London schooltea...
The main conceptual idea of the text is Steve McQueen's personal understanding and experience of resistance.
The article uses anecdotes from his childhood, reflecting on how he witnessed resistance from his art teacher and neighbour. He links this to his own development as a Black artist, emphasizing that loving oneself and pushing creative boundaries are forms of resistance. McQueen connects these personal experiences to broader social movements, evoking the memory of chanting for education rights.
The text ultimately portrays resistance not as a singular act, but as a continuous and integral part of McQueen's life, shaping his perspective and artistic practice.
The main conceptual idea of the text is Steve McQueen's personal understanding and experience of resistance. The article uses anecdotes from his childhood, reflecting on how he witnessed resistance from his art teacher and neighbour. He links this to his own development as a Black artist, emphasizing that loving oneself and pushing creative boundaries are forms of resistance. McQueen connects these personal experiences to broader social movements, evoking the memory of chanting for education rights. The text ultimately portrays resistance not as a singular act, but as a continuous and integral part of McQueen's life, shaping his perspective and artistic practice.
