Arthur France MBE and Max Farrar have been friends for about 40 years and this book is, in part, Max’s tribute to his enormous contribution to Leeds and the world beyond. Its wider purpose is to deepen our insight into the uncomfortable relationship between Britain’s White and Black citizens. Born in 1935 in the small Caribbean island of Nevis, Arthur landed in The Mother Country in 1957 and was shocked to meet a very bad mother indeed.

Speaking Truth To Power explains how Arthur responded by joining the Black Power movement, and setting up the first Caribbean Carnival in Europe, while earning a living in Yorkshire and Germany and bringing up a family. With references to other black people from Leeds — including Caryl Phillips, Mel B and Corinne Bailey Ray — this book places Arthur in the wider context of Caribbean people’s drive for full emancipation that has changed Leeds, and Britain, since the 1950s.

Gallery photo by Max Farrar.

A note about accessibility – Unfortunately, our Grade II* listed building is not currently fully accessible. We have a stair lift from the ground floor foyer to the first floor but are unable to install a through-floor lift due to the building’s historic status. Please email us on enquiries@theleedslibrary.org.uk if you have any questions around access, and we will do everything that we can to accommodate you.

The Leeds Library is committed to making its building and collections accessible to everyone in our current capital building works project The Next Chapter Project. To find out more, please visit the website HERE.