The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
A community volunteer group which has offices in the Small Heath area of Birmingham has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Purbanat CIC received the prestigious award for services to the community which included helping vulnerable people with mental health issues during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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…
Warning: This article contains images some readers may find distressing. Local residents in Saltley were left in shock after the head of a pig was dumped near a mosque in Washwood Heath Road on Saturday. The distressing discovery was made by two sisters who immediately alerted police on Saturday 28 November.
A brand-new supporters group has been launched with the help of the Aston Villa Foundation, with a strong focus on representing women of migrant heritage. ‘Saathi Villans’ has been created to break down barriers and encourage local women from ethnic minorities to attend Aston Villa matches, and many of their members will be attending for the…
A selection of the region’s biggest employers united today to pledge their support to tackle the lack of diversity at the very top of major companies and public bodies. Representatives from more than 60 businesses and organisations gathered in Birmingham for the launch of the Inclusive Leadership Pledge – an initiative aimed at rebalancing boardrooms.
Journalist Vimal Korpal chats to Bernie Wilcox, one of the founders of the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis in 1978, on the 40th anniversary of the anti-racism event; and ahead of a new public exhibition in Manchester showcasing photographs and posters from the carnival. A defining moment in establishing anti-racism movements in the city and…
I happened to be in Manchester and stumbled upon Bernie Wilcox, who was one of the main organisers of the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis, which took place 40 years ago. A defining moment in establishing anti-racism movements in the city and beyond, the gathering was supported by music bands including Birmingham’s reggae group Steel Pulse…
A number of LGBTQ+ groups across the city have called on Birmingham Pride to ban cultural appropriation, following an I Am Birmingham article highlighting the issue was published last month. In light of several Native American headdresses being worn as ‘costumes’ at Birmingham Pride celebrations, representatives from queer groups of colour have condemned the practice.
Why is it that in 2018, with constant talk in the media about racism and interracial relations, do we STILL have people that don’t understand that cultural appropriation is wrong? In this case, revellers swaggering along Hurst Street during Birmingham Pride in the cultural attire. I mean, come on, seriously?