Join us for the MX60 National Convention, a vital gathering for activists, community builders, and artists to reflect on the legacies of anti-racism and community building in the UK.
This event marks the 60th Anniversary of Malcolm X’s visit to Smethwick, where he witnessed the impact of racial prejudice and reinforced the global struggle against racism.
As Britain faces rising racial violence and persistent myths surrounding immigration, this convention aims to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds to confront hatred and foster understanding. We will explore the lessons learned over the past six decades in tackling racism and building progressive communities.
Key Highlights:
Engage with influential speakers, including:
- Chetan Bhatt (LSE Human Rights)
- Gus John (Campaigner for Equity and Human Rights)
- Lila Tamea (Activist and Educator)
- Mukhtar Dar (Cultural Activist)
- Paul Gilroy (Theorist of Race and Racism)
Participate in workshops focused on developing local strategies for anti-racist activism.
Network with Southall, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford, and Middlesbrough community organisations.
Aims of the Convention:
- Reflect on Malcolm X’s legacy and its relevance today.
- Support local groups in understanding their histories and developing collaborative efforts.
- Plan for future activities leading to a second convention in February 2025.
Who Should Attend: This event is open to activists, community leaders, students, and anyone interested in social justice and anti-racism.
Date: Saturday, 7 December
Register for event Here
Registration: Secure your spot by registering on Eventbrite. We look forward to seeing you there as we work together to build a more inclusive future!
Biographies:
Chetan Bhatt
Chetan Bhatt is professor of sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK, where he directs LSE Human Rights. Previously, he taught at Goldsmiths, University of London and the Universities of Essex and Southampton.
Gus John
Gus John has been in the struggle for racial and social justice in Britain since 1964. He joined the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD) in 1966 and became a member of the Council of the Institute of Race Relations in 1970. He is a campaigner for Equity and Human Rights and an international reparatory and climate justice consultant.
He is Chair of the International Network of Scholars and Activists for African Reparation.
Jagdish Patel
Jagdish Patel is an artist and PhD researcher focusing on anti-racism and art. He has been working with the Monitoring Group and Himmah for a long time. He is helping to develop the Himmah Hub, an anti-racist centre tackling structural equality through radical care, legal rights and belonging.
Lila Tamea
Lila Tamea is a UK-based Muslim Yemeni activist, educator, and PhD researcher focusing on Islamophobia in UK higher education. She is known for her work on social justice, Palestine and Muslim student politics. In August, she was part of the response to the Liverpool riots where she worked alongside community leaders and advocacy groups to foster dialogue and promote understanding amidst the tensions. Lila regularly speaks on issues on identity, inclusivity and activism and continues to be a vocal advocate for marginalised communities.
She is a PhD Candidate & Tutor, LJMU
Mukhtar Dar
Mukhtar Dar is a cultural activist, artist, and archivist dedicated to social justice, anti-racism, and anti-imperialism. In 1982, after a brutal racist attack by 13 thugs on an Asian restaurant, he co-founded the Sheffield Asian Youth Movement. His activism extended through the Birmingham Asian Youth Movement and the Pakistani Workers Association.
In 2023, Mukhtar co-founded Kings Heath United Against Racism following an Islamophobic attack on a 73-year-old local resident. Recently, in response to the racist riots and pogroms last month he co-founded Asian Defiance, a national anti-racist, anti-fascist movement uniting South Asian communities to combat far-right extremism and state racism and contributing to a national united front against the spectre of fascism. Mukhtar’s creative work includes serving as Artistic Director of The Drum Arts Centre and founding the Simmer Down Festival. He now leads Kalaboration Arts, a radical Black arts development agency. His notable projects include the Blacklash: The Struggle for Self-Defence exhibition of his extensive photographic and video archive at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Mukhtar’s activism and artistry embody a lifelong commitment to unity, justice, and resistance.
Paul Gilroy
Paul Gilroy who has been described as one of the foremost theorists of race and racism working and teaching in the world today. He is the author of several highly influential books. Gilroy’s is a unique voice that speaks to the centrality and tenacity of racialized thought and representational practices in the modern world.
Sajid Mohamed
Sajid Mohammed was born and raised in Hyson Green in a single-parent household. He experienced firsthand the social and economic inequity caused by poverty, racism, and educational inequality. He studied at the University of Bradford and then did postgraduate studies at Nottingham Trent University.
Sajid has been instrumental in developing both institutions and leaders. He co-founded Himmah, Salaam Sholam Kitchen, Race Equality Justice Nottingham and has coauthored published reports on policing, housing, hate crime, sanctuary, and refugees and contributed to several published books, including on community organising, interfaith, and leadership.
Dr Shabna Begum
Dr Shabna Begum is CEO of Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading racial justice thinktank. She is author of ‘From Sylhet to Spitalfields: Bengali squatters in 1970s East London’ and was a secondary school teacher for over 20 years.
Suresh Grover
Suresh Grover is one of the founders and national coordinators of The Monitoring Group, a pre-eminent organization working against racism and discrimination since the late 1970s. He has led several public inquiries, including the Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarak, Victoria Climbié inquiries and numerous other campaigns.
Taj Ali
Taj Ali is a journalist and historian. His work has appeared in the Huffington Post, Metro and the Independent. He is the former editor of Tribune Magazine and is currently writing a book on the history of British South Asian political activism in the UK.