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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 have carved a life “here” and it became their home but they’ve never felt accepted and they always had this fear at the back of…
Where once there were many, now there is only one: Not Another Comic Con is on in Birmingham
It wasn’t that long ago that Birmingham could well have been accused of having too many comic cons across the year. Sandwiched between the two big MCM Comic Con shows were the likes of The Birmingham Comic Con in Edgbatson and the far more comic-focussed International Comics Expo (ICE) in the city centre, but now,…
SPORT | What it REALLY means for Aston Villa FC to be promoted to the Premier League
After 3 seasons in the English Football League Championship Aston Villa Football Club have been promoted back to the Premier League. Much like spoilers for Game Of Thrones, Facebook timelines around Birmingham and the West Midlands have been splashed by the news that Aston Villa Football Club are returning to the the top tier of …
Opinion | Muslims Vs Queer people? Maybe it’s not so simple
In recent months, there has been furore in an inner-city area of Birmingham. Alum Rock, Saltley and the surrounding areas where the Trojan Horse scandal (aptly renamed ‘Trojan Hoax’) took place. Protests broke out by parents in front of Parkfield Primary School, at its height hosting over a hundred parents. 600 pupils were later pulled from…
10 photos of Birmingham’s top architectural marvels!
The skyline of England’s second city has increasingly evolved over recent decades as the city continues to redevelop its architectural landscape. With several buildings awaiting demolition, and many more undergoing building and redevelopment, it’s easy to look over some of Birmingham’s architectural marvels.
OPINION: I’m asexual and we’re “as common as redheads”
Let’s be clear about one thing: life is baffling for everyone. For some people, though, the way society is geared creates extra layers of confusion and alienation to deal with, on top of the existential comedy of (t)errors we call modern life. For many LGBTQ+ people, before ‘coming out’, there has been an extended process…
OPINION: Is this the erasure of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ scene?
Today, the heart of Birmingham’s LGTBQ+ scene, a community spanning clubs and safe spaces for all, has made a heartfelt plea. The plea is quite simple, our community is under threat and we need all the help we can get to protect it from being destroyed. Frequent visitors to Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ quarter within the Southside…
Remembrance Sunday: A British Muslim perspective on honouring all those who fell
Recently, I spoke to a friend who works in diversity. She said that she’d only just realised for the first time that large numbers of Muslims had fought in the two world wars to support Britain. This is someone who spends her professional life thinking about integration and inclusivity, yet she said that it had…
Black History Month: Who was ‘Queen of Kingston’ Cubah Cornwallis?
Who was the ‘Queen of Kingston’? Cubah Cornwallis became known as “The Queen of Kingston”. She was also known as Couba and Cuba, her birthdate was unknown but she died in 1848. The little known woman and revered figure in Black History is behind Jamaica’s first documented nursing facility.
OPINION | A walk down the aisle… with social media
Will you consider a walk down the aisle… with social media? I recently got married. Yay! Hurrah! And all those other things!