A new photography show looking at life in Britain’s black communities during the ’70s and early ’80s is coming to London this weekend.
The exhibition, titled Back In The Day, will spotlight 25 images that address the politics of race and representation in the UK. It is tied to the upcoming release of Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie –which follows the story of a young Jamaican man in ’80s London as he attempts to avenge the death of his brother.
All of the shots featured in the show will be supplied by Autograph – a Hackney-based arts charity which aims to explore “cultural identity, human rights and social justice” through the use of visual arts. Photographers featured include Bandele ‘Tex’ Ajetunmobi, Raphael Albert, Armet Francis, Colin Jones, Neil Kenlock, Dennis Morris, Charlie Philips, and Syd Shelton.
Back In The Day will run at Hackney Picturehouse from August 18 to September 2.

Colin Jones, Untitled, from the series The Black House, 1973-1976

Armet Francis, Fashion Shoot, Brixton Market, London, 1973.

Colin Jones, Untitled, from the series The Black House, 1973-1976

Raphael Albert, Miss Black & Beautiful Sybil McLean with fellow contestants, Hammersmith Palais, London, 1972

Colin Jones, Jamaica, late 1970s

Colin Jones, Untitled, from the series The Black House, 1973-1976

Colin Jones, Untitled, from the series The Black House, 1973-1976

Raphael Albert, Miss Black & Beautiful contest, Hammersmith, London, 1970s

Tex Ajentunmobi, Untitled, East End, London, 1970s
Back in the Day: The Autograph Archive will be on show at the Hackney Picturehouse from August 18 to September 2.
Yardie will be in cinemas August 31. Special nationwide preview screenings, including a live satellite Q&A with Idris Elba, take place on August 23.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Sophie Green’s maximalist, technicolour vision of Britain’s fringes
Tangerine Dreams — The photographer has spent over a decade documenting the rituals, subcultures and social gatherings that form the collaged fabric of the UK’s society. A new exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation celebrates her work and the communities she captures.
Written by: Roxana Diba
When the Chelsea Hotel was New York’s countercultural epicentre
Closed doors, open minds — Albert Scopin’s new photobook collects photographs that were once thought to be lost, documenting the city’s creative scene that gathered during the building’s 1969 to 1971 heyday.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Glasgow’s Calabash is the restaurant the African diaspora call home
Home Cooking — Having been open in the heart of the city for 15 years, the Kenyan rooted eatery has become a community staple for migrants and Scottish-born locals alike.
Written by: Lisa Maru
Andrea Modica’s 40 year long Italian Story
Storia — The Italian American photographer first ventured to her ancestral country in 1987, beginning a decades long exploration and documentation of it.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Exploring Bucovina, the last wild place in Europe
Noroc! — 70% of Romania’s northern provinces are covered in ancient woodland, with its people cultivating a close relationship with the land that stretches back millennia. Jack Burke forages, eats and drinks his way around the region.
Written by: Jack Burke
War & Pieces: The race to become the world’s fastest jigsaw puzzler
The Obsessives — The UK Jigsaw Puzzle Championships see contestants turn a cosy pastime into a high stakes battleground, as they race to complete 500-piece puzzles in as little time as possible. It’s as much a feat of athleticism as cognitive quickness, reports Ginnia Cheng.
Written by: Ginnia Cheng