#handsworth

[birminghamuk49]

Tenement housing photo is quite rare…court 1 top of Nineveh road, Handsworth date 1901.

[o-the-mts]

90 Movies in 90 Days: Handsworth Songs (1986)

Every day until March 31, 2024 I will be watching and reviewing a movie that is 90 minutes or less. Title: Handsworth Songs Release Date: October 24, 1986 Director: John Akomfrah Production Company: Black Audio Film Collective Summary/Review: This impressionistic documentary centers on the September 1985 riots in Handsworth, a district in Birmingham, England home to immigrant communities of…

[shihlun]

John Akomfrah / Black Audio Film Collective

- Handsworth Songs

1986

[roseillith]

HANDSWORTH SONGS (1986) dir. JOHN AKOMFRAH

[federer7]

Young Men on See-Saw, Handsworth Park, Birmingham, UK. 1984

Photo: Vanley Burke

[afrotumble]

Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution - 01 - Handsworth Revolution

[pianotunerwolverhampton]

🎵 🎶 🎹 Fine Tuning a brand new Yamaha YUS1 SH3 silent system Upright Piano in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham 🎵 🎶 🎹

www.matthewjamesrichards.co.uk

#yamaha #music #musician #piano #pianist #handsworth #tuning #pianotuner #wolverhampton #pianotuning #yamahapiano #yamahauk #Birmingham

[birminghamuk49]

Handsworth 1970s

[kilnhursttyres]

Looking for quality tyres in the Handsworth area? look no further! Kilnhurst Tyres brings you the ultimate guide to finding the best tires for your vehicle in Tyres Handsworth.

[theunderestimator-2]

Steel Pulse photographed for their 1978 single "Ku Klux Klan" by Dennis Morris: "I have taken many controversial images; this is one of them. The record company thought it was too controversial and it was never used.. It is now in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London!"

blackhistorymonth.org.uk: "Steel Pulse was formed in 1975 in Birmingham, England, specifically the inner city area of Handsworth. The founding members were schoolmates (…) from working class West Indian immigrant families, and none had much musical experience… They initially had difficulty finding live gigs, as club owners were reluctant to give them a platform for their “subversive” Rastafarian politics. Luckily, the punk movement was opening up new avenues for music all over Britain, and also finding a spiritual kinship with protest reggae. Thus, the group wound up as an opening act for punk and new wave bands like the Clash, the Stranglers, Generation X, the Police, and XTC, and built a broad-based audience in the process. In keeping with the spirit of the times, Steel Pulse developed a theatrical stage show that leavened their social commentary with satirical humor; many of the members dressed in costumes that mocked traditional British archetypes (Riley was a vicar, McQueen a bowler-wearing aristocrat, Martin a coach footman, etc.). Steel Pulse’s first single for Island was the classic “Ku Klux Klan,” which happened to lend itself well to the band’s highly visual, costume-heavy concerts. It appeared on their 1978 debut album, Handsworth Revolution, which was soon hailed as a classic of British reggae by many fans and critics.."

allmusic.com/ : "The number is tightly wound around a dangerously thumping bass line and David Hind's searing delivery. The extended version is even more musically militant, the instruments now weapons in the engineer's hands, the rhythm even more threatening. This remains Pulse's most enduring classic."

(via)

[shihlun]

Jah Shaka in the Black Audio Film Collective's 1986 film "Handsworth Songs".

[roseillith]

HANDSWORTH SONGS (1986) dir. JOHN AKOMFRAH

[joeinct]

Young Men on See-Saw, Handsworth Park, Birmingham, Photo by Vanley Burke, 1984

[c86]

Vanley Burke - Boy with Flag, Winford in Handsworth Park, 1970

[denimbex1986]

'Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.

A statement posted on his Instagram account confirmed he died in the early hours of Thursday.

The statement said Zephaniah's wife "was with him throughout and was by his side when he passed".

"We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news," it added.

Zephaniah was born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse. He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.

He moved to London aged 22 and published his first book, Pen Rhythm.

His early work used dub poetry, a Jamaican style of work that has evolved into the music genre of the same name, and he would also perform with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.

As Zephaniah's profile grew, he became a familiar face on television and was credited with bringing Dub Poetry into British living rooms.

He also wrote five novels as well as poetry for children, and his first book for younger readers, Talking Turkeys, was a huge success upon its publication in 1994.

On top of his writing work, Zephaniah was an actor and appeared in the BBC drama series Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022.

He played Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus, appearing in 14 episodes across the six series.

Zephaniah famously rejected an OBE in 2003 due to the association of such an honour with the British Empire and its history of slavery.

"I've been fighting against empire all my life, fighting against slavery and colonialism all my life," he told The Big Narstie Show in 2020.

"I've been writing to connect with people, not to impress governments and monarchy. So I could I then accept an honour that puts the word Empire on to my name? That would be hypocritical.

He often spoke out about issues such as racial abuse and education.

When he was younger, Zephaniah served a prison sentence for burglary and received a criminal record.

In 1982, Zephaniah released an album called Rasta, which featured the Wailers' first recording since the death of Bob Marley.

It also included a tribute to the then-political prisoner Nelson Mandela, who would later become South African president.

In an interview in 2005, Zephaniah said growing up in a violent household led to him assuming that was the norm.

He recalled: "I once asked a friend of mine, 'What do you do when your dad beats your mum?' And he went: 'He doesn't.'

"I said, 'Ah, you come from one of those, like, feminist houses. So, what do you do when your mum beats your dad?'"

In 2012, he was chosen to guest edit an edition of BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Zephaniah was nominated for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards for his work, The Life And Rhymes Of Benjamin Zephaniah, which was also shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018.

During a Covid-19 lockdown, Zephaniah recited one of his poems in a video for the Hay Festival.

"Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator. He gave the world so much," the statement announcing his death said.

"Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy."

A statement from the Black Writers' guild, which Zephaniah helped establish, said: "Our family of writers is in mourning at the loss of a deeply valued friend and a titan of British literature. Benjamin was a man of integrity and an example of how to live your values."

Others paying tribute included author Michael Rosen, who said: "I'm devastated. I admired him, respected him, learnt from him, loved him. Love and condolences to the family and to all who loved him too."

Actress Adjoa Andoh posted: "We have lost a Titan today. Benjamin Zephaniah. Beautiful Poet, Professor, Advocate for love and humanity in all things. Heartbroken. Rest In Your Power - our brother."

Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy said in a statement: "Benjamin was a truly gifted and beautiful human being.

"A generational poet, writer, musician and activist. A proud Brummie and a Peaky Blinder. I'm so saddened by this news."

Broadcaster Trevor Nelson said: "So sad to hear about the passing of Benjamin Zephaniah. Too young, too soon, he had a lot more to give. He was a unique talent."

Singer-songwriter and musician Billy Bragg added: "Very sorry to hear this news. Benjamin Zephaniah was our radical poet laureate. Rest in power, my friend."

Comedian, actor and writer Lenny Henry said: "I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Benjamin Zephaniah. His passion for poetry, his advocacy for education for all was tireless."

Writer Nels Abbey said: "To call this crushing news is a massive understatement. He was far too young, far too brilliant and still had so much to offer. A loss we'll never recover from."

The X/Twitter account for Premier League football club Aston Villa, whom Zephaniah supported said everyone at the club was "deeply saddened" by the news.

"Named as one of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008, Benjamin was a lifelong Aston Villa fan and had served as an ambassador for the AVFCFoundation. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."'