Black Pride MCR founder says 'Pride is a protest' and wishes it wasn't needed
Watching the Manchester Pride parade this year was emotional, and the acts performing as part of the party across the stages were more diverse than ever. With vans driving with statements on them such as 'Don't whitewash the rainbow', it's thanks to people like 44-year-old Darren Pritchard that Black people are urging people to not forget about them in queer celebrations.
Founder of Black Pride Manchester Darren wanted to give Black people a safe space where they can be on the same page as others and wanted to create an event where Queer Black joy could be spread whilst others could be witnesses to it.
Messages this Pride were clear (Danielle Kate Wroe)"Black Pride Manchester, and when we say Black it's the UK politically Black which encompasses all non-white people in the UK, or anyone that would experience racism through their skin colour, was founded because even though we're in 2023, there's still racism, prejudice, homophobia and other phobias that Queer Black people face within their own community", Darren explained.
He added that Black Pride Manchester is "unique" thanks to its layout. It's a "big catwalk competition where the whole Black community come together and celebrate one another, have fun, and spread Queer Black joy."
He said: "There are intersectionalities of being Queer and of colour that aren't faced by other people, and sometimes you need a safe space with people just like yourselves, to have that shorthand and a conversation and celebrate each other, and talk about each other's problems."
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Darren is impressed that Manchester Pride has such a commitment to diversity (Robby Dee Photography)
Darren created Black Pride Manchester to celebrate Queer Black people of all intersectionalities (Robby Dee Photography)Darren shared that Black Pride Manchester is a yearly catwalk extravaganza competition showcasing amazing talent. "We bring together all facets of the community, and there's a catwalk with four categories - best dressed, dance, lip sync and kink, and it's like Ru Paul's Drag Race on acid", he joked.
"That's the way we do it in Manchester because Black Pride in London is a separate thing, and I create shows so I wanted to create a show and an event so I thought 'what better than people getting on a platform, on a catwalk, and being celebrated by their own community and allies', so that's how we do it here. They do say in Manchester we do things differently here. We also help with artist development, film screenings and talks."
Speaking about Manchester Pride specifically, Darren said it's "amazing", crediting as the best Pride event in the UK due to the fact it's the most "Queer-centred one." "They haven't gone with massive massive headliners, they've gone for the local community, local talent, and they're still selling out over the weekend. So for me to be here as part of Black Pride is so special because we're here as part of a wider collective because there's Trans Filth and Joy, Fat Pride, and loads of different intersectionalities of our communities being celebrated and at the forefront."
But in and amongst the unadulterated joy, there are still important messages to remember - Pride is a protest after all. Darren explained: "Pride is an event which shows colour, diversity, and brilliance of Queer people - but also that we have still got work to do. With Black Pride, I say it's an event that I don't want to be doing because we should be celebrating ourselves every day. Pride is a protest, and how we protest is through our arts, but I'd like Pride to not have that edge in the future because homophobia will have been eradicated, sexism will have been eradicated, and people will love and care for one another and accept people for who they are."
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