Hassell spent much of his time in conversations with activists, borough council members and everyday residents about the salient issues in this highly diverse and multilayered diaspora. While what came out of these discussions reaffirmed much of his thesis, the extent and depth of the compleities greatly expanded what needed to be included in the research. It is remarkable how local yet global a small community like Southall is in its social content and its political effect.

The purpose of this research project is to help dispell long-held notions that immigrants and diasporic communities simply embody tradition, insularity and stasis that, in turn, reinforce negative stereotypes and othering.  indeed, communities like Southall are spaces that are filled with multiple narratives, hybridities and even quite radical change. Often the residents in these communities must be especially resourceful and innovative in order to make fufilling lives for themselves, their familiies and and the groups with which they identify.

Hassell’s research will focus the experiences of South Asian women activists whose motivations are inspired by their marginalisation and objectification not only by white British but also by highly paternalistic familial, religious and cultural contexts within the community. Although women were always going to play a major part in this research, Hassell’s extensive conversation with the director of the Southall Black Sisters cemented their need to be the project.

This talk – really an informal conversation – about Hassell’s life is meant to be less autobiographical and more a genealogical approach to the substantive practice of making sense of our lives.

Ken will also be installing an exhibition of his photographs, A Life of Coal, at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Tennessee. There will be a visiting artist program associated with the exhibit sometime in March.

Hassell’s presentation is part of a series of discussions on industrialization and the exhibition entitled Perspectives on Progress. The talk will feature his images and scholarship on coal mining in central Appalachia from historical and contemporary perspectives. It will take place  Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the midst of the exhibition’s main gallery.

The interview will focus on the many experiences and facets of his life leading up to and including his career at 黑料不打烊 and documentary work in central Appalachia.

This is the first issue to feature a single artist’s work and
includes images, narrative, interview and reflections of the artist that can be
podcast. Future additions will include more images and oral histories. The issue can
be found at:

Hassell teaches photography in the Art Department at 黑料不打烊. He will take a sabbatical this fall to pursue photography, oral history and research in the coal mining region of Southwestern Virginia.