Black History Month 2021: Proud To Be

Black History Month 2021: Proud To Be

WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER, 2021

This year’s Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements, excellence and contributions of the Black communities in the UK and around the world. As the theme for 2021 is called “Proud to Be”, we will be sharing what our members are proud of on social media, using the hashtag #ProudToBe.

We will also be listening to the experiences of our Black members through a series of events in the Birmingham area - both celebrating their achievements and hearing about the issues that they face. 

The city of Birmingham is home to a large community of Black people, including members of the Windrush generation and refugees, and it is important for us to highlight their stories.

Migrant Voice’s full calendar of events for Black History Month is below. Our events this year are in partnership with Saathi House and Bruhstrokes; and will be updated as the month goes on.

Commonwealth and communities

Tuesday 5 October | 10am - 12pm

• DETAILS: Coffee morning at Saathi House including podcast discussions with journalist Anisah Vasta from Birmingham Live on Commonwealth nations, shared experiences and the impact of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on local communities. Refreshments provided.

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

Lewin Williams campaign workshop

Monday 11 October | 12pm - 2pm

• DETAILS: Workshop in support of Lewin Williams’s campaign to stay in the UK. Lewin, 74, has lived in the UK for more than 18 years and is battling cancer. He won't be able to afford medical treatment if he is deported to his home country of Jamaica. The workshop will include poster-making, petition signing, discussion, photography and refreshments. 

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

Empowering migrants through media

Tuesday 19 October | 12pm - 2pm

• DETAILS: In discussion with Farisai Dzemwa and Althia Barnett, two Migrant Voice members who joined us to learn writing and multimedia skills and went on to become community journalists and published ‘Beyond’ magazine celebrating Black excellence. Farisai will also be discussing publishing her autobiography ‘Healed: Road to Recovery’. Q&A chaired by Selbin Kabote. Refreshments provided. 

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

Show Your Heart - Together with Refugees

Wednesday 20 October | Time TBC*

• DETAILS: Supporting the ‘Show Your Heart - Together with Refugees’ rally in Birmingham as part of a national week of action against the Borders and Nationality Bill. Organised by Stand Up To Racism.

• LOCATION: Victoria Square (TBC)

In Conversation with Cllr Sharon Thompson and friends

Date & Time TBC*

• DETAILS: In conversation with Cllr Sharon Thompson, Shantal Murray and Espoir Njei. Chaired by Salman Mirza, discussion points will include migration, Windrush and addressing the question: ‘How welcome are refugees and asylum seekers to ‘City of Sanctuary’, Birmingham?’

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

FILM SCREENING: Glasgow Girls

Friday 22 October | 6pm

• DETAILS: Film screening of ‘Glasgow Girls’, a drama about a group of seven young women in Glasgow, Scotland, who highlighted the poor treatment of asylum seekers whose rights of appeal had been exhausted. In 2005, the group campaigned against dawn raids, raised public awareness and found support in the Scottish Parliament.

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

Black Heritage Walk: Remembering Ida B. Wells

Saturday 23 October | 1pm - 4pm

• DETAILS: Black Heritage Walk tour highlighting the story of remarkable African American woman Ida B. Wells who travelled to Britain to campaign against slavery, racism and lynching from the 1830s to the late 1890s. Ida B Wells was a feminist, activist, author, a social reformer and an inspirational figure. Wells visited Birmingham in 1893 and 1894.

• LOCATION: Edgbaston Community Centre, 40 Woodview Drive, Birmingham B15 2HU. (Our group is meeting at Saathi House and travelling to the location together.)

Vanley Burke migrant photography project

Tuesday 26 October | 10.30am - 12pm

• DETAILS:  Ikon is partnering with Migrant Voice and the School of Education, the University of Birmingham on a project with artist Vanley Burke, who will photograph ten pre-selected Birmingham residents and families in their social, professional and domestic settings. Participants will share aspects of their cultural heritage from a range of countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Poland and Pakistan. Vanley Burke and the team will be joining us for a coffee morning to share more about the project.

• LOCATION: Saathi House, 49 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HR

* TBC = To be confirmed

All of our events are free and open to all, especially Migrant Voice members. Some events may have limited spaces so please check beforehand.

For more information about any of these events, or to book, please email: [email protected]