Column
Remembering the late dedicated HIV activist Tom Matthews this World Aids Day 2023
A few months before Tom Matthews passed on in 2022, I met him at our usual meeting venue, a pub in Birmingham city centre for a cup of coffee and…
OPINION | Selbin Kabote: Why isn’t my professor Black?
While thinking about what to write for Black History Month, the recurring question in my mind came from a panel discussion at University College London in March 2014 – “Why…
OPINION: Why we’re coming together to stand up against domestic violence
A lot of research has been done and written about domestic violence by researchers and academics. This is talked about and spread far and wide. Services are shaped and formulated…
OPINION: Why the Blues anti-racism march in Birmingham must not be underestimated
The significance of Saturday’s demonstration by ex Zulu Warriors and Birmingham City fans in support of Black Lives Matter cannot be underestimated. Flashback to 24 March 2018 and 4,500 supporters of…
OPINION: Weekly ‘cuppa’ meet-ups give many migrants something to look forward to
The weekly Cup'a'Tea virtual meet-up hosted by Migrant Voice for the migrant community has proved quite popular as it gives many something to look forward to each week. Many who attended…
OPINION: Wake up Africans – Coronavirus is very, very real
Ignorance, misconceptions and unhealthy calm. As l have be engaging with my community, with my fellow migrants and also with my fellow Africans, my concerns and trepidations have been increasing…
OPINION: Making the most of the coronavirus lockdown period
COVID-19 never prepared me for his coming and before l could say A, B, C 'the lockdown' was introduced. Though I was forewarned about the lockdown, I still was not…
OPINION: Why do I celebrate International Women’s Day? | Raveeta Banger
Why do I celebrate International Women's Day? When this question was posed to me, I paused for a minute. It almost felt like a loaded question. ‘Why’ is IWD an…
OPINION | This election for the West Midlands will be decided on anger and desperate need for change
Coming back to my hometown of Birmingham this week has made realise that this upcoming election, often valorised as an “once in a generation” vote, is even more unpredictable and…
OPINION | British Pakistanis: “We don’t belong here and we don’t belong there”
My parents have always said "Nah iteh jowgeh ah, nah uteh jowgeh ah", which roughly translated means "We don't belong here and we don't belong there". "Here" was England. They…