The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
Award-winning Birmingham actor, comedian and television presenter Adil Ray has described the Commonwealth Games as an “embarrassment” for his home city, as a race row over diversity and inclusivity continues to mar the sporting event. The Good Morning Britain presenter added his voice to a chorus of concerned creatives and community leaders who have already expressed…
A Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games official has come under fire from community leaders after suggesting Birmingham does not “have enough large ethnically-led creative organisations” to help facilitate reaching out to more diverse communities. Martin Green, the Chief Creative Officer for the Games’ organising committee, was responding to a question about whether recent concerns from members of the…
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…
A special online musical event has been planned by the team behind the Simmer Down Festival, as a tribute to BME communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Dubbed ‘Simmer Lock-down Lounge’, the event will be live streamed across YouTube and Facebook for people to enjoy on Sunday (September 20).
West Midlands Police chiefs have jointly committed themselves to fighting racism and discrimination in the regional force amid growing criticism of their handling of a recent racism scandal. The Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable condemned racism and highlighted the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, but fell short of responding to recent criticism of their…
Campaigners supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in Birmingham are demanding West Midlands Police release the name of an officer who has been sacked for making racist comments. Community activists from the region’s Black community have described the police force of “protecting racists” after it failed to disclose the personal details of the officer as has been done…
An officer from the West Midlands Police has been sacked after making racist and inappropriate comments about his colleagues, according to the force. The officer, whose identity has been withheld by police, appeared before an independent misconduct panel this week.
A teenager who was inspired by local police efforts to keep communities safe has now become a Special Constable with the hope of doing the same. Abdullah Imad was so impressed by officers’ dedication to helping others he made his own ’thank you’ cards to give them as a 15-year-old.
A daring new poster which employs acidic satire to attack and highlight the concept of ‘white privilege’ has been displayed in Digbeth, Birmingham. The parody poster is the work of an enigmatic Birmingham street artist and activist known as Foka Wolf, an anonymous urban creative who is often compared to Banksy in his scathing but hilarious socio-political observations.
A Birmingham guerilla artist has painted new street art in Digbeth inspired by recent tragic events in America following the brutal slaying of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer. Guerilla artist and activist Void One spoke to I Am Birmingham and shared his thoughts about his new ‘Liberty for Sale’ art…