A major new public artwork celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Malcolm X visit to Smethwick, West Midlands is to be unveiled at the Ivy Bush Bar & Grill Sunday 12th February 2025. The art work commissioned by Legacy West Midlands, as part of the MX 60 Collective and funded by the Arts Council.
In February 1965, Malcolm X visited Selma, Alabama, supporting Martin Luther King’s civil rights campaign against segregation. Seventeen days later, he was assassinated. Between these two events, Malcolm X visited Smethwick to experience the colour bars and racial prejudice in the Midlands. The artwork was designed by internationally renowned artist Bunny Bread founder of Create
Not Destroy, the work celebrate Malcolm X legacy and the anti-racism campaign in the West Midlands.
This groundbreaking historical artwork features the Avtar Singh Jouhl from the Indian Workers Association and black nationalist Claudia Jones who steered the first London Carnival following racists uprisings in 1959.
“The story of how and why Malcolm X found himself in Smethwick is one of international Black unity and solidarity. The significance of the visit was to connect the dots of global racism be it in Soweto, Alabama or Smethwick. The same racist scapegoating of Refugee and Asylum Seekers today was very much the background back then, leading the Indian Works Association to inviting Malcolm X to expose the unfolding apartheid in Smethwick” – Jagwant Johal, BRIG
The work will be completed in February 2025 to mark USA Black History Month 2025. It has been endorsed by the MX 60 collective, a collaboration of local anti-racist groups, artist and activists. An unveiling ceremony will take place at the Ivy Bush Bar & Grill, Smethwick from 1pm on 12th February 2025 by special invitation. Garry Stewart, Director of the Black Heritage Walks Network, on Malcolm X’s Visit to Birmingham in 1965: Malcolm X’s visit to Smethwick in 1965 was a pivotal moment in the fight against racism in Britain. He came to witness firsthand the discrimination faced by Black and Asian communities, exposing the segregationist policies that mirrored those of the American South. His presence brought global attention to the injustices in Smethwick, challenging the status quo and inspiring a new generation of activists. For the Black Heritage Walks Network, this history is deeply relevant. Our work ensures that these stories are not forgotten but are instead woven into the fabric of our communities. The struggles Malcolm X highlighted continue to resonate today, reminding us why it is essential to preserve and share these histories. His visit is not just a moment in time—it is a call to action that still echoes in the streets of Birmingham and beyond.
For more information or further questions contact blackheritagewalksnetworks@gmail.com
This MX 60 Collective is a collaboration between:
Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG)
Black Country Living Museum
Black Heritage Walks Network CIC
Black History Arts and More
Bright Ideas Nottingham
Dynamexx Productions
Jagdish Patel
Kalaboration Arts
Legacy West Midlands
Recognize Black Heritage & Culture
Savita Vij
Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre
Stand Up To Racism Birmingham
Stand Up To Racism Black Country
