I AM AN ACTIVIST

ACTIVIST

I AM AN

Kefentse Dennis

Nathan McGill, Haris Jawed, Daisy Wood and Prayer Mak

We are a creative collective of students with a desire to amplify the voices of under or misrepresented individuals from Birmingham. Our debut campaign “I AM AN ACTIVIST� centralises the voices of Birmingham based, community activists at its core. With intent to project their voices and lived experiences into spaces they may not have previously been represented.

Jae Tallawah

Aquilla Hope

Adam Carver

Nora Young

Kefentse Dennis

Kefentse Dennis, Dennis,29,29, Birmingham, Birmingham, post graduate post graduate student. student.

Do you consider yourself an activist and why?

Yes, it’s been a part of my culture for a long time.

Being a black person, we’ve been activists sincewell, forever basically. Since, post-slavery. Being very popular during the 50’s, and 60’s, 70’s 80’s 90’s all the way up to know. So it continues to part of our culture, so it’s very important to me.

What kind of activism are you involved in?

Several. So environmentalism,that can be broken down into veganism as well, black social issues, as well as LGBT issues. Again, that can be broken into specially pansexuality and bisexuality as well.

Could you tell us about your journey to where you are today?

It’s been a bit late, I will admit. I think th- ‘cause that’s by design. This whole education that we have in this country doesn’t really teach much about black issues. So all of the issues that I learn about, all the black knowledge that I know is outside of school.

And didn’t even really start researching that until I - the university. So- and that’s undergrad. I mean, coming out- I came out publicly last year. So- but I know in myself since I was 25. So in terms of LGBTQ, I’m quite new to it. But with the black issues, that’s been about 10 years.

Who are 3 people have inspired you to get involved with activism?

For environmentalism, I would say Caroline Lucas, of the Green Party. For black issues, I would say Phillip Scott of the African Diaspora channel on Youtube.

I’m still trying to work out for LGBTQ since I’m so new to it, so I can’t really give a third answer for that one.

What are you hoping to achieve through your activism?

Just more awareness and action. Obviously action being more important. There are still people who are not aware and whether it be blissful or willful ignorance, it needs to change. I want to create (obviously) movements, spaces, and promote spaces for those issues as well. I think it’s very important because the way the world is at the moment it’s very white and European-focused. So it’s important that we obviously realise there’s outside the world than being white and European, and being male.

So- yeah that’s why.

What approach would you take to somebody opposed to your movement?

It depends how they do it if they’ve done their research, and if they’re nice, and if it’s like in a debating setting where they have respect for the person they’re talking to, then I would be inclined to do the same thing and respectfully debate my points. But if it’s a person that’s shouting at me, their points- or they’re just being ignorant or they have not checked the facts or anything like like that. It depends if its a person who’s- you can tell they want to change or if they’re the person that doesn’t want to change. So again it goes back to being willfully ignorant or blissfully ignorant. When you’re being blissfully ignorant, you can be changed but if you’re willfully ignorant it’s a lot harder.

I am courageous.

I value honesty.

I advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves.

I fight for equality.

I believe in fairness.

What is the most rewarding part of your activism?

I think it’s seeing those little feel-good stories you see on the news and social media. Especially when you’re a part of it, it’s a local thing. You see like, something that makes you feel nice to say “Yeah you know what I made- I’m part of that change- I did something there” and people are going to see that. No matter how big or small it is. It’s bringing some positivity into the world.

I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST

Aquilla Hope

Aquila Hope, 37, Birmingham, freelancer.

Do you consider yourself an activist and why?

I consider myself an activist because of the unique intersection I'm at because I'm not just a person of colour or black I happen to be trans and non-binary.

So that mean activism is almost part of my day to day.

Who are 3 people have inspired you to get involved with activism?

Ok, I would say first one would be Marsha P. Johnson. Because she was just so outspoken for her time, and (obviously) she paid a heavy price for that.

Funnily enough Labi Siffre one of the few young gay songwriters out there. He's still around, still talking What kind of activism are you involved in? about issues in regards to that in his very own way.

And I would say also probably Indya Moore because Well, I'm involved in work I do independently. As I'm as a person of colour it's good to see someone also a spokesperson for the neon network. So I'm who's non-binary that is in the spotlight and cannot often called in to do interviews over the phone. I've just talk about the lives but also doing it in such a been on LBC, I've been on talk radio, I have been on profound way.

BBC Radio WM regards to anything trans related or trans-rights related. So I've been called in to answer questions and made a case. Often they can range from 5 minutes to 15-20 minute interviews.

Could you tell us about your journey to where you are today?

I would say from a very young age I was always interested in journalism in some way shape or form.

We're talking way back in the days of Newsround and such I was very interested in journalism until life took over and as I eventually did come out, I realised that I had to- Not only did I have an important role but I had something to say about being a trans person, being around these certain intersections. So, as I do multiple different thing I found myself working different principles like I'm also part of a Vogue House, which is in some ways it is activism and some people say it's also entertainment but also there is a rich history in regards to that but that's a whole 'nother story.

What are you hoping to achieve through your activism?

I hope- really- my aim is for all the queer and trans youth - they can have a level of confidence to say "ok, that person's done- what else can I do?" in terms of what they can say about their own lives?

I just really want to make a platform for the trans youth to be able to be themselves and not having to worry about being verbally or physically harmed.

What approach would you take to somebody opposed to your movement?

I would say actually talk to somebody who is actually trans and/or non-binary. Because the main issue with those who oppose is there's this one little missing section which is the empathy in the humanity of it all. I understand they have fear, concerns. But it's very much us and them and putting the frame of they're over there, they're doing this, there, there, there, there, there. Rather than actually finding out who the person is behind on what's being told to you. Actually having a conversation, it might not change hearts straight away but it turns it from a theory into a practice, into "there's an actual person behind all their reasonings.

I am black.

I value knowledge.

I advocate for all kinds of love.

I fight for the planet.

I believe in all of us.

I am an activist.

What is the most rewarding part of your activism?

When people tell me that I've have an impact on their lives. I still think some days I don't make an impact but when those ones do come and some people literally come up to me and say you've made this massive impact. I don't know why I'm so surprised but I still am surprised because it's- you work so hard at it and you try and do your best in what you do, but when you inspire others and they let you know about it it is worth everything that you do and it's worth all the hard work.

I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST

Jae Tallawah

Jae Tallawah, 23, Birmingham, multidisciplinary artist.

Do you consider yourself an activist? Why? I consider myself an aspiring activist. I think to call myself an activist when I’m still very much at the beginning of my journey is a discredit to all the brilliant black women that came before me to make it possible for me to exist as a human today. So yeah, aspiring. We’re getting there.

Who are 3 people who have inspired you to get involved with activism?

Three people who have inspired me to get involved with activism are Suriya Aisah she is the founder of Unmuted and the co-founder of Colours Youth Festival. Which are both platforms for LGBT people of colour.

What kind of activism are you involved in?

Another one would be Fannie Sosa, who is from the States and I remember she did this film that was Currently, my main form of activism is through my called “Twerking” as a form of radical empowerment, art. So that would be through my music or through and that just really lit a different kind of energy on the visual art that I do. Or through creating spaces the terms of that were certains elements or aspects or doing hair or anything that means that I can be of womanhood that are seen as degrading that can creative a get a message across. super empowering.

Could you tell us about your journey to where And the last person that inspired me would be Demi you are today?

Nandhra. She’s a theatre maker and a performer.

She wrote this play called “Life is No Laughing My journey to where I am today started through Matter” which is her journey with her mental health connections that I made with Beatfreeks. I used to and depression and that really inspired me to be do poetry in church. I grew up in the church and unapologetic and brave with my - diversity and when I left there was nowhere for me to go with other aspects of the way that my brain works I that energy or with that form of creativity. One of wouldn’t necessarily have thought about using it in my friends from college told me about Beatfreeks an activist capacity before. and then it just kind of all snowballed from there, we’re getting involved with loads of different organisations and just building and growing and making as much as I possibly can.

What are you hoping to achieve through your activism?

Through my activism I’m hoping to support other neurodiverse people understand that access needs are important and that the way that their brain works is just as valid and just worth being given a chance to grow, and thrive, and flourish and participate. I’m hoping to let neurodiverse people know that they deserve to take up space just like anyone else.

What approach would you take to somebody opposed to your movement?

I think the approach would be very passive because you don’t get to oppose my humanity or my right to exist as a human being. Google is free, so Google it. I’m arguing with people that don’t deserve my energy.

What is the most rewarding part of your activism?

I think the most rewarding part would probably be on the days when where I feel like a potato or like deep-fried trash. And I don’t feel like I’m adding value and I don’t feel like I’m doing anything important, and then I do something creative that resonates with someone and they’re able to take something out of that. Even on my worst days- like a reminder that even when you feel like chaos that people can still be (-) that you offer to the world.

I am unapologetic.

I value community.

I advocate for bravery.

I fight for access.

I believe in people’s capacity to evolve.

I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST

Adam Carver

Adam Carver, 29, Birmingham, creative producer.

Do you consider yourself an activist? Why? I think I do but I think it’s taken a while to consider what I do to be activism. In that the work I do isn’t necessarily about being out on the streets and protesting or in a more conventional sense of what you might think activism is. But is about occupying space and it’s about creating space for other people and advocating for change and doing that actively.

What kind of activism are you involved in?

All of my activism focuses around the queer community and creating space for LGBTQ people and particularly advocating for the intersections within that as well and not kind of being in one homogenous idea of what being queer. Recently my activism has been focusing around creating space for young people and responding to the need or working with children and telling children about- providing queer visibility for children, young audiences, for families and countering the rising homophobic and transphobic narratives that we’ve been seeing particularly increasing in the last couple of years. To find way that we can make change for young people and then we can teach them that it’s ok to be different and the things that make us different are the things that should be celebrated.

And that’s a combination of working directly with young people and also then advocating for change around the structures that support young people.

Could you tell us about your journey to where you are today?

I think it’s probably a combination of 2 things. The first being a long journey of my own self-discovery and really starting to unpick and understand the structures and things that have happened around my growing up that impacted me as a queer person and that have influenced the way I have seen the world and seen myself. And a journey to unpick that and to really analyse why I feel the way I do and why other people feel the way they do. And I think that’s motivated me to think about how can I provide the representation that I needed. How can I make space that wasn’t available to me when I was younger? So that’s one thing that’s brought me to this point.

The months worth of homophobic and transphobic protests that happened in Birmingham in 2019 happening outside schools protesting the LGBTQ inclusive education in primary schools and actually getting- That’s the first sort of real vocation, the call to- you have to do something now and you have to make a different and you can’t be passive about that.

You have to go and make change and that needs to happen in a discursive way and it can’t happen in a way where you stand and scream back. We need to facilitate space for change and understanding and figuring out how we move beyond these tension.

Who are 3 people who have inspired you to get involved with activism?

I think that- initially I was very inspired by the work of Larry Kramer, who was an American playwright and activist. He was kind of integral in the formation of Act Up, which was the organisation created in response to the AIDS crisis when the American government wasn’t putting in any place, systems or resources to try and support funding towards HIV and AIDS prevention. So we lost like a whole generation of mostly gay men. And disproportionately affected people of colour. And he really started to use the platforms that he had to really rail against the system and demand change in really quite aggressive ways.

The second is Marsha P. Johnson who was a trans woman of colour who is credited with having thrown the first brick at the stonewall riot which started the liberation- movement. That’s debated whether she did or not. But she did this amazing legacy work after stone wall creating spaces for young trans people and for homeless queer people who didn’t have anywhere to go, who have been thrown out of their homes by their families or certain circumstances.

to deal with. I meet structural resistance a lot. But that’s gone right through to- I’ve received death threats for a being a queer person around children. I think that firstly that has to happen in conversation.

I think it has to happen in places where we can create empathy. I think that can’t happen very well in digital spaces.

My approach often is to try and understand the thinking that has led someone to have their opinion.

And then work out how we can start to unpick that.

Someone who is doing important work right is Travis And I think comes from a place of growing up in a Alabanza. They are an artist, an activist whose work small rural space a conservative ideology space, and advocates for better support, change, for structural not.My thoughts and my activism and my politics equality for trans people. But I think they’ve done has changed dramatically in the last decade and I that in a very unique way that looks at how we can think that because I understand that the process of take creativity and media and how can we think getting people on board is a transition- is a journey. about those tools which are readily available to us Just telling someone “you’re homophobic, you’re to become platforms to affect change, and to kind transphobic” isn’t actually often effective. For me, of really use those to be very unapologetic about it’s understanding where the starting point for themselves and I think that has inspired the way I that journey is and then trying to build a structure think about approaching my activism. towards- though that.

What are you hoping to achieve through your What is the most rewarding part of your activism? activism?

The most rewarding part of what I do is seeing I want to achieve equality in a way that isn’t a change. It’s seeing that in very literal ways. I run simulation.-We can celebrate things that make us a project where we take a troop of drag kings different and we all have space to do that but we are and queens and queer performers around the all of equal standing. And actually, I think what that country. And we take them into town city centresreally comes down to is safety. There’s a fantastic we have a full show that’s aimed at kids ages 3-8. quote from DaShaun Williams which says that “To And I get to see whenever that happens, a change. be visibly queer is to choose your happiness over We see hundreds of people watch that each time your safety”. And that’s something that inspires me we perform it, and I see parents change, and I see to think about the work that I make, the spaces that children become more confident. They start to I create also the way that I present myself in space. learn that they can be whatever they want and they That’s about disrupting space. And I think that can celebrate themselves. We’ve had parents and what I’m looking for is the eradication of that. The grandparents come up to us and tell us they way idea that we don’t have to compromise safety for that the work changes the way that they think or happiness. has made them consider their relationship with their children. And watching physically- being able What approach would you take to somebody to watch that process of change is a real privilege. opposed to your movement?

Being that catalyst for people to change is the most rewarding thing.

I think whenever we meet with opposition, that to me is a clear sign that is a space where the work is needed. I thank that it can be a very difficult space occupy a position because you’re so emotionally invested and a big part of activism and making change and making space is emotional labour. And you’re obviously personally invested in whatever the work you do is. Those moments are difficult

I am a big ol’ queer.

I value inclusion and meaningful change.

I advocate for space.

I fight for the needs queer communities.

I believe in making equitable space, and that means burning the whole fucking thing down and starting again then so be it.

I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST

Nora Young

Nora Young, 52, Birmingham, activities coordinator.

Do you consider yourself an activist? Why?

So it’s been a journey, there’s been lots and lots of ways that I’ve been involved with things. I’ve Yes. I think I’ve been an activist all my life. To me an just always believe you should always help other activist is somebody who’s trying to change society. people, and that part of life is about working with And I’ve been trying to do that for as long as I can your community. I disagree with the individualistic remember. way that a lot of society is going that is just about being selfish and looking after yourself and your What kind of activism are you involved in? family. I believe human beings are meant to be- to live in communities, that’s we’re social creatures, we I’m really blessed that I’m working in a community look after each other, that’s how we survive. centre where I work with the community all the time. And because we’re a charity, we have the Who are 3 people who have inspired you to get ability to respond to what the community needs involved with activism?

So we’re constantly working within the community, helping people to help themselves, enabling To try and pick three people is really really really people, helping them use their agency. I’m also a tough. I could point to various heroes of mine. member of the Labour party in my spare time so Malcom X , Gandhi was a big inspiration. But to be there’s various things that come out of that. But honest, it was ordinary people that inspired me, it generally, I’m blessed that it’s my job to do the stuff was really people that I first met when I first helped I love doing. in those soup kitchens. It was ordinary people who’d go out every day, not people that are written about Could you tell us about your journey to where in newspapers, not people who make headlines, you are today? not people that become famous. People who give up their own time without any accolades, it’s I think I first started started getting involved with people that are making the tea and running things. any kind of activism when I was about 13 or 14. This Nowadays, back when I was young we didn’t have was during the Miner striker back in the 1980’s. And food banks, we didn’t have the conditions that we I helped in soup kitchens I marched with the miners, have now in the UK. Now the same people that used I collected for the miners, I got very involved with to do various bits and pieces, they’re running food things that were going on. I then got involved with banks, they’re keep society going, and they never the anti-apartheid movement, I did peace studies at get any praise or any accolades and that’s not what university, I was involved in lots of different political they’re doing it for. And those to me are the real campaigns. And then I settled down, became a heroes. school teacher. But even while I was teaching I was doing lots of different things I felt passionate about over the last few years I’ve done- worked in Calais, in the refugee camp, that they used to call the jungle.

I used to teach there during the summer holidays. I ended up collecting things from schools, taking out school minibus over. I volunteered with food banks, until eventually I started actually doing it as my job.

What are you hoping to achieve through your Quite literally, it may be something growing or activism? it may be metaphorically with something in the community. But actually, when you see people Bringing communities together. Having people come to together, when you see what people can understand that we’re stronger together than achieve. And one of my mottos is ‘do you know how divided. That everyone in this world can have as to make someone smile? Smile at them.’ Even a smile much as they want if we all just want less and we sometimes can make a difference. And sometimes think about others. Every major religion always tells just to make someone else smile can be my victory us to love our neighbour. But we have to actually for the day. do that an practice, getting our neighbour to help our neighbours. Build things together. I really really believe that things have to come from grass roots, from communities, and that means working with your neighbours, working with your friends, doing things together. That’s what I want to achieve.

What approach would you take to somebody opposed to your movement?

I’m not somebody who believes you can necessarily change people’s minds by arguing the opposite.

I think what you do is you change their minds by letting letting them see what you’re achieving.

Generally people don’t say “I think it’s terrible for people to work together”, they just tend to be cynical about whether it will work. And that’s at the point- and I go “Yeah, Ok if you don’t think I can do this, that’s fine. Would you mind just standing aside while I do?” And that way- then they see what you achieve. And that’s how you change people’s minds.

What is the most rewarding part of your activism?

The most rewarding part of my activism is the fact that I really do meet the most amazing and inspiring people. I have great good news stories on the weekly, if not daily basis. I literally, every night write down what I’m grateful for. And I cannot remember the last time that I had to struggle to think of something. Because there are just small victories every day. It may just be something where you seen that one person start to blossom, or you just see the green shoots of something starting to come up.

I am proud to be a Brummie.

I value everybody in my community.

I advocate for those who are not able to speak up for themselves.

I fight for the vulnerable.

I believe every single living creature on this planet has worth and should have their life valued.

I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST I AM AN ACTIVIST

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