Exhibition: Museum for Mothers of Black Bodies Murdered in State Custody

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Sat 14 Jun 2025

The exhibition at the Manchester Poetry Library, running from 10 April to 6 September, is the latest chapter in what its creator dubs 'an impossible experiment'. Think of it as part art installation, part wake-up call, and part homage to the Black lives lost in state custody. It aims to showcase the ongoing injustices faced by Black bodies, tackling everything from colonial pasts to contemporary cruelties. Some of the exhibits have previously been explored in films and poems during Wild Seed's Black Women's Writing Retreat. So, if you fancy a break from the usual gallery fodder, this might just be the thing.

In a reflective mood, the author, Booker, started pondering what a Black Poetic Museum would look like. This led to a series of deep questions morphing into a creative whirlpool of ideas. What if this museum could capture the historical and current violence inflicted upon Black bodies by the state, tracing its origin from the African continent through to police custody incidents today? The library is excited to host new works—be it poems, films, photography, or other thought-provoking pieces—contributing to this ever-evolving narrative. If you're in the area, swing by on 10 April at 6.30pm for the launch, where you can hear from the folks behind it and maybe even snag a limited-edition poetry broadside while you're at it.

More information at www.mmu.ac.uk/poetry-library/whats-on/events/detail/exhibition-museum-mothers-black-bodies-murdered-state-custody




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