Migration Matters

'How Britain changed the migrants and how they changed Britain'

In the latest of our occasional commentaries on the coverage of migration in the media, Daniel Nelson looks at the BBC's Big British Asian Summer. Please put your hands together in appreciation of some recent positive programmes about migrants. Yes, the media likes to highlight negative stories. Yes, as Migrant Voice research has shown, too many stories do not give space for migrants' voices. But let's give credit where it's due. The BBC's Big British Asian Summer featured a variety of stories on Britain's biggest minority population (that's the BBC's…

In the latest of our occasional commentaries on the coverage of migration in the media, Daniel Nelson looks at the BBC's Big British Asian Summer. Please put your hands together…

Borders on the move

A popular show developed from research with migrants and refugees across Europe, Palestine, India and the UK begins a British tour on 19 April. First staged five years ago and fusing dance and dialogue, Border Tales takes a look at stereotypes about multicultural life in Britain. Much of the dialogue comes from the experiences of members of the cast, including participants from Islington Refugee Centre. It rejects "the false dichotomy of immigrant outsiders and bigoted natives, preferring to view Britain through the eyes of its international cast." Italy-born artistic director…

A popular show developed from research with migrants and refugees across Europe, Palestine, India and the UK begins a British tour on 19 April. First staged five years ago and…

UN Animated Video Series of Migrant Stories

The UN Human Rights has launched a series of short animated videos revealing migrant stories and conversations to challenge the ‘us and them’ dogma and change the narrative surround migrants and refugees. ‘Rather than a mass, a crisis, a threat, or a swarm we recognise a neighbour, a colleague, a classmate, an employer, a friend; stories of the bond between parents and their children, old and new friends’ brothers and sisters... when we see each other as individuals we uphold all the things we have in common rather than…

The UN Human Rights has launched a series of short animated videos revealing migrant stories and conversations to challenge the ‘us and them’ dogma and change the narrative surround migrants…

Guidance Notes for Teachers

Show Racism the Red Card have developed a set of guidance notes to support teachers in discussions about the issue of immigration with young people in association with the campaign's educational film 'Immigration; What's the Story'. Immigration; What’s the Story is a unique educational film exploring the complex issue of immigration and highlighting the prejudiced faced by many migrants, and those who are perceived to be migrants, living in the UK. The film and the associated Teaching Notes are designed to provide a stimulus for classroom-based education sessions and feature…

Show Racism the Red Card have developed a set of guidance notes to support teachers in discussions about the issue of immigration with young people in association with the campaign's…

Top BME Authors to Look Out For in 2018

A look at 2018’s upcoming releases by Black and Ethnic Minority authors who explore issues of race, idetntify and migration Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, 4th Estate, 12 July Tagged as the ‘Black Girl’s Bible’; ‘Slay in Your Lane’ is inspired by the many black women who despite facing hardships in all walks of life worked their way to success and paved the way for others to follow. ‘The love child of exasperation and optimism’, Slay in Your Lane springs from…

A look at 2018’s upcoming releases by Black and Ethnic Minority authors who explore issues of race, idetntify and migration Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible…

The Lore of The Jungle

The Jungle is an exciting, vibrant portrayal of life in the Calais encampment set up by refugees and migrants as a staging post for their hoped-for journey to Britain. For three hours a day, the Young Vic captures the desperation, the hope, the tensions, the creativity of the camp that existed from January 2015 to October 2016. The audience sits on benches in the Jungle's Afghan restaurant that critic A. A. Gill praised in a Sunday Times review: "The surprise, the great surprise, is the chicken livers ... This was…

The Jungle is an exciting, vibrant portrayal of life in the Calais encampment set up by refugees and migrants as a staging post for their hoped-for journey to Britain. For…

Wins Betjeman Poetry Prize

13-year-old Syrian refugee, Amineh Abo Kerech, wins Betjeman Poetry Prize Lament for Syria by Amineh Abou Kerech Syrian doves croon above my head their call cries in my eyes. I’m trying to design a country that will go with my poetry and not get in the way when I’m thinking, where soldiers don’t walk over my face. I’m trying to design a country which will be worthy of me if I’m ever a poet and make allowances if I burst into tears. I’m trying to design a City of Love,…

13-year-old Syrian refugee, Amineh Abo Kerech, wins Betjeman Poetry Prize Lament for Syria by Amineh Abou Kerech Syrian doves croon above my head their call cries in my eyes. I’m…

No Turning Back: Seven Migration Moments that Changed Britain

Migration moments to remember Review by Daniel Nelson The Migration Museum's new exhibition starts in 1290 but has Brexit in its sights.It makes that clear in the exhibition's name: No Turning Back: Seven Migration Moments that Changed Britain. “Brexit is currently the centre of attention, but Britain has faced many moments throughout history which have had a major impact on the movement of people to and from these shores,” says Sophie Henderson, director of the Migration Museum Project, which has established the Migration Museum at The Workshop and is…

Migration moments to remember Review by Daniel Nelson The Migration Museum's new exhibition starts in 1290 but has Brexit in its sights.It makes that clear in the exhibition's name:…

Mona Lisa: a story for our time

A poor immigrant is at the centre of a new play that recently premiered in London – and many migrants had a hand in the production. The writer of Mona And I, Rogério Corrêa, has Brazilian roots but lives in London, where he gained an MA in scriptwriting at Goldsmiths, University of London and a BA in Brazilian, Portuguese and African Studies at King’s College. It was directed by Lebanese-Brazilian theatre-maker Victor Esses. Set, costume and props designs were by Sunny Jeon, who spent three years with a theatre company…

A poor immigrant is at the centre of a new play that recently premiered in London – and many migrants had a hand in the production. The writer of Mona…

The play that breaks down ideas of 'them' and 'us'

Imagine: eight actors of different ages, sizes, genders, and ethnicities sitting on stage with their chairs forming a V-shape whose point faces the audience. The setting is a plane in midair that is in danger of crashing and the dialogue jumps from character to character who then reveals their internal thoughts. As the imagined plane thrashes there are uniform facial expressions of horror alongside synced movements forward, backward, and sideways. The common thread is that recognizable stirring of fear despite the fact that each character is isolated in their own…

Imagine: eight actors of different ages, sizes, genders, and ethnicities sitting on stage with their chairs forming a V-shape whose point faces the audience. The setting is a plane in…

Migration Matters