Orwell Prize finalist hosting event in Milton Keynes to discuss Britain’s history of resistance to racism
A finalist in this year’s Orwell Prize is hosting an event in Milton Keynes to discuss Britain’s history of resistance to racism.
Taj Ali, a journalist, historian and former editor of political magazine Tribune, will be discussing his new book Come What May: We’re Here To Stay: The Story of South Asian Resistance in Britain at an event at the Centrecom Meeting Place on Tuesday October 13.
Organised by the Milton Keynes Peace & Justice Network, the evening will see Taj discuss the book, which tells a history of British South Asian political activism, before taking questions from the audience.
His book examines generations of people who campaigned for rights, dignity and belonging, ranging from seafarers organising strikes through to students campaigning against British colonial rule.
Taj told our sister newspaper the Luton News: “As we see a rise in far-right extremism across Britain, we need to understand how our elders fought back against racism in the seventies and eighties, and what lessons we can take away from that for racism in the here and now.”
Taj was selected as a finalist for this year’s Orwell Prize, a prestigious political writing award, for his work on hate crime and Islamophobia.
A spokesperson for the Milton Keynes Peace & Justice Network said: “Too often we hear history told as though communities simply endured racism and discrimination.
“Taj’s work tells another side of that story - of ordinary people organising, resisting and standing together to change things.
“At a time when there are very real attempts to divide people from one another, we think this history has something important to say about the present.
“We also want this to be a conversation about Milton Keynes. What can we learn from people who organised before us, and how do we build the relationships, solidarity and sense of community that can overcome division today?”
Drinks and snacks will be available during the evening, and organisers say participation in the discussion is entirely optional.
The event is operating on a pay-as-you-are-able basis, with a suggested contribution of £5.
Places for the event, which runs from 7pm to 9pm at Centrecom Meeting Place on North Row on October 13, can be reserved online through the Ticket Tailor platform.