Local Shorts Screening of Malcolm X in Smethwick
brum imcista | 09.01.2007 14:53 | Anti-racism | Social Struggles | Birmingham
The next Local Shorts event is on Wednesday 10th January 2007, and is an Arts and Politics special, following the great success of the previous Arts & Politics event.
There will be a showing of Steve Page's Malcolm X: the story of when Malcolm X came to Smethwick, as well as a Smorgasbord of other short films.
Our special guest this month is Louis Campbell, musician, performance poet and film maker.
Local Shorts Film Club, Library Theatre Birmingham
6.00 networking/drinking
7.00 ish films
The event is FREE!
There will be a showing of Steve Page's Malcolm X: the story of when Malcolm X came to Smethwick, as well as a Smorgasbord of other short films.
Our special guest this month is Louis Campbell, musician, performance poet and film maker.
Local Shorts Film Club, Library Theatre Birmingham
6.00 networking/drinking
7.00 ish films
The event is FREE!
Malcolm X walks down Marshall Street in February 1965
Malcolm X and Smethwick:
2005 marked the 40th anniversary of Malcom X's visit to Smethwick in the West Midlands. Steve Page's film collects previously unreleased footage of Malcolm X in Smethwick, alongside current interviews with politicians, young people and members of the local community - who discuss why he came and how his influence is still evident today.
The town has it's own fascinating political history. In 1918 a suffragette, Christabel Pankhurst, stood as an electoral candidate. Oswald Moseley was the Labour MP for Smethwick from 1926-1931. He then went on to found the British Union of Fascists.
Malcolm X visited Smethwick, a town adjacent to Birmingham, in February 1965 just 9 days before his assassination. Smethwick had been a focus of immigration from the Commonwealth in the economic and industrial growth of the years following World War II. During this time the town was synonymous with racism, stirred up by politicians for their own electoral ends.
Malcolm X toured Smethwick during the General Election, when a few months earlier the successful Tory candidate, Peter Griffiths played the 'race card'. Peter Griffith's supporters had covertly circulated the slogan, "If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Liberal or Labour."
Malcom X walked down the then notorious Marshall Street where white residents had persuaded the Tory-run local council to buy any houses which came up for sale and sell them to white families only.
He had a pint in a pub which did not operate a colour bar, gave several interviews and then returned to New York where he was shot dead nine days later.
"I have come here because I am disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly," he told the Press. He also added; "I have come here because I am disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly. I have heard they are being treated as the Jews under Hitler. I would not wait for the fascist element in Smethwick to erect gas ovens."
Nine days later, Malcolm X was murdered in Harlem, New York City.
2005 marked the 40th anniversary of Malcom X's visit to Smethwick in the West Midlands. Steve Page's film collects previously unreleased footage of Malcolm X in Smethwick, alongside current interviews with politicians, young people and members of the local community - who discuss why he came and how his influence is still evident today.
The town has it's own fascinating political history. In 1918 a suffragette, Christabel Pankhurst, stood as an electoral candidate. Oswald Moseley was the Labour MP for Smethwick from 1926-1931. He then went on to found the British Union of Fascists.
Malcolm X visited Smethwick, a town adjacent to Birmingham, in February 1965 just 9 days before his assassination. Smethwick had been a focus of immigration from the Commonwealth in the economic and industrial growth of the years following World War II. During this time the town was synonymous with racism, stirred up by politicians for their own electoral ends.
Malcolm X toured Smethwick during the General Election, when a few months earlier the successful Tory candidate, Peter Griffiths played the 'race card'. Peter Griffith's supporters had covertly circulated the slogan, "If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Liberal or Labour."
Malcom X walked down the then notorious Marshall Street where white residents had persuaded the Tory-run local council to buy any houses which came up for sale and sell them to white families only.
He had a pint in a pub which did not operate a colour bar, gave several interviews and then returned to New York where he was shot dead nine days later.
"I have come here because I am disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly," he told the Press. He also added; "I have come here because I am disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly. I have heard they are being treated as the Jews under Hitler. I would not wait for the fascist element in Smethwick to erect gas ovens."
Nine days later, Malcolm X was murdered in Harlem, New York City.
brum imcista