Black Excellence
Birmingham City Council adopts new RACE code to tackle boardroom racial inequality
Following the launch of the RACE Equality Code 2020, Birmingham City Council has announced that it will become an early adopter of the framework to tackle racism and racial inequality. Developed by Dr Karl George MBE following the death of George Floyd in the United States and the global Black Lives Matter campaign, it draws together…
REVIEW: Handsworth Riots 1985 – Pogus Caesar’s photographs hold a tragic mirror to our age
Birmingham artist and photographer Pogus Caesar has released a new book, ‘Handsworth Riots 1985’, which revisits a notorious chapter in Birmingham’s history. In the publication, Caesar’s material showcases powerful and visceral moments of social chaos on the streets of Birmingham which were ignited by a Molotov cocktail of racism, poverty, and political unrest that continue to…
West Midlands migrants create and launch community magazine for Black History Month
A team of budding citizen journalists from migrant communities across the West Midlands have launched an online magazine for Black History Month. The group of mature students from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall have made the leap from learning basic media skills only a year ago to producing their first fully-fledged professional magazine this month.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH | INTERVIEW: Joshua Williams
Proud Brummie Joshua Williams is a journalist, broadcaster, presenter and ambassador for several high-profile community initiatives and corporate brands. He’s also been crowned Mr Birmingham, is an avid fundraising fashionista, a vocal social activist and was elected President at his university’s student guild – and he’s still only 22. We caught up with him to find…
BLACK HISTORY MONTH | INTERVIEW: Sharon Thompson
Sharon Thompson has been a Labour Councillor for the Birmingham North Edgbaston ward since 2014 and has a genuine passion to improve her local area. Once homeless herself, and a single mother at an early age, Cllr Sharon Thompson is currently the Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods and on the WMCA Housing & Land Delivery…
BLACK HISTORY MONTH | INTERVIEW: Tarik Ross-Cameron
Spoken word artist Tarik Ross-Cameron has developed his craft over the years and now delivers creative workshops and programmes to other young individuals. A performance poet, writer and facilitator, Tarik is an Associate at city arts collective Beatfreeks and a Development Coordinator at Punch Records. We caught up with him to find out more about his…