Learn more Got it! Birmingham Museums SCHOOLS CONTACT SUPPORT US SHOP ONLINE VENUES VIRTUAL TOUR HIGHLIGHTS WHAT'S ON ABOUT Search Go WHAT'S ON SPECIAL EVENT In Conversation: Birmingham Black Oral History Project 30 years on 9 Dec - 9 Dec 2021 7.00pm - 8.30pm This event is free DETAILS Online only Pre-booking essential BOOK TICKETS Join us for a special event discussing and celebrating the legacy of the Birmingham Black Oral History Project. As Birmingham Museums begins to make the recordings of the Birmingham Black Oral History Project available online, we are joined by some of the project’s founders to reflect on this incredible archive. Join a panel including founders Ranjit Sondhi CBE, Jagwant Johal, Siobhan Harper-Nunes and Charmaine Burton to discuss the project’s origins, some of the notable recordings and what we can learn from these memories 30 years on. The Birmingham Black Oral History Project (BBOHP) was founded in Handsworth in 1990. The project aimed to ‘collect, preserve and disseminate the spoken history of Birmingham’s black population’. The collection includes oral history interviews with 21 people conducted between 1990 and 1992, who originated from the Caribbean, South Asia and covered a range of themes including first impressions, religious experiences, education, experiences of racism, identity, as well as their thoughts on the future. In 1999 the BBOHP deposited jointly the collection with Birmingham Museums Trust and University of Birmingham, Cadbury Research Library (Reference: GB 0151 DA06). This free online event will be delivered via Zoom. Once you have signed up to the event, a unique invite will be sent for an online Zoom webinar, along with instructions of how to log on. Pre-booking is essential. Book a free ticket online - ticket sales end at 12noon on the day of the event. Speakers Ranjit Sondhi CBE Ranjit Sondhi was born in India and has lived, studied and worked in Birmingham since 1966. He founded the Asian Resource Centre in Handsworth and has been a community activist, a university lecturer training youth and community workers, and a Board member of a number of of local and national governing bodies, regulatory authorities and appointments commissions. These include the Commission for Racial Equality, the BBC, the National Gallery, the NHS primary Care Trust, the Criminal Cases Review Commission and Guide Dogs for the Blind. His particular interest in formations of community and identity led him to be involved in the Birmingham Black Oral History Project. He considers himself to be a black, British Brummie of Urdu-speaking Indian Punjabi origin. Jagwant Johal Jagwant has worked in the field of race equality, Black history, community development and local government over the last 4 decade. During this time, he co-founded Birmingham's first Black History Month pilot in 1992, ran the European Council's 'All Different All Equal' Partnership, ran the City's BHM programme (1997 - 2007) and co-founded the Black History Foundation. Now retired, he is the Secretary of the Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG). Siobhan Harper-Nunes Siobhan Harper-Nunes was born in Guyana, South America and came to England in the 1960s, first to visit her Irish Grandmother and later in 1968 to live and work in Birmingham. Siobhan studied Race and Social Policy at Birmingham University in 1985 and later, as the daughter of passionate historian and minister for education Dr CV Nunes, she became passionate about our history and heritage. In 1990 she became the first project officer of the newly formed BBOHP. She later was active in the Black History Foundation, co-ordinator of black history events across the city and chair of the black workers group of Birmingham City council. Siobhan is the founder of Shakti Women, dedicated to supporting women and girls to find and own their power. She is still active in the fight for justice and is Vice Chair of the Birmingham Race Impact Group. She lives and works in Birmingham and is now an active volunteer for the Birmingham Green Party. Charmaine Burton Charmaine Burton is passionate about her home city of Birmingham with its culturally rich and diverse communities. She is an advocate for encouraging citizens to engage with their local and national institutions. She is a communications specialist and a political broadcaster, social entrepreneur, WMPCC Strategic Policing and Crime Board member, Honorary Secretary and Execution Committee member of the Lunar Society and a non executive director of the Community Media Association and former Lay Member of the House of Commons Standards Committee. Charmaine is the executive producer and presenter of her own political, social, economic, cultural and current affairs radio show DifferentAnglez on Birmingham’s first black licensed African Caribbean community radio station. This event has been made possible with a grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Image: Photos of Birmingham Black Oral History Project participants Frank Scantlebury, Carlton Duncan, Ryland Campbell and Esme Lancaster. © Kate Green, BBOHP. BOOK TICKETS IMAGES SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER Please read our Privacy Policy for details on how we use personal data and information. You must be 16 or over to sign up to receive our newsletter. Name Email FIND US ON THE WEB DONATE TO US WITH JUSTGIVING Privacy Policy Sitemap Website Accessibility Birmingham Museums Trust © 2014