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 an update on the plans that he had to commemorate World Aids Day (WAD), which was an important date on his calendar. At the meeting Tom,…
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 isn’t my professor Black?” Although Britain is a multicultural society with a rich migration history, however according to official figures, only 155 out of the…
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 this way. It is rare though that we get to hear lived life stories straight from the victims and survivors, the horse’s mouth so to…
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 the Football Lads Alliance and the breakaway Democratic Football Lads Alliance, along with Tommy Robinson, amassed in Birmingham in support of the Justice421 campaign.
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 the first meet-up on the have been attending each week since, a sign that this is of benefit to them.
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 by the day during the coronavirus crisis.
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 prepared for it either. It therefore leaves me wondering if being warned would have made that much difference in terms of preparing for the coming…
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 important day for ‘me’ as a British Asian woman? Each year, this day marks a movement of sorts and starts conversations that go on to…
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 volatile in the West Midlands than anywhere else in the UK. Statistically speaking, our region can be likened to a volcanic blackhole. The Brexit battle…
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…