Notes of Refusal

Notes of Refusal: Exhibition Curation

This exhibition presents the works of a collective of students exploring the archival history of the 1964 Smethwick election and the antiracist resistance movements led by the Indian Workers’ Association [IWA] during this period. It commemorates their invitation to Malcolm X and his subsequent monumental visit to Marshall Street in February 1965.

The artworks can be seen as their notes of refusal. Refusing to see racism or antiracist protests as a thing of the past. Noting current forms of racism and struggles for freedom and social justice. Questioning media biases and representations. In making ancestral connections to human histories of immigration to the UK and addressing the emotional worlds of those considered immigrants today. It honours the legacies of IWA members, Malcolm X and the human-centred politics they stood for.

Questions were raised about its lesser-known legacies of antiracism. On-the-street canvassing over tea to large-scale Trade Union campaigns and demonstrations against racist housing and immigration laws. IWA members can be seen to actively resist racism in all of its forms. They write letters to the government, fact-check racist rhetoric in the press, produce their own newsletters and hand-make campaign flyers. The timeline shows their presence throughout a decade and beyond. Being firm in the face of “racialism” and simultaneously spreading messages of togetherness whether at work or in the imagination of the nation.

All students involved refuse to see the past without their lines of questioning. It touches upon Malcolm X’s own thoughts: “One of the first things I think young people…. should learn how to do is see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself….then you can come to an intelligent decision for yourself.” (Steve Clark, 2024 ‘Malcolm X Talks to Young People’ Left Book Club) Their decision-making of what to represent and how is through their choice of mediums whether creative writing, poetry, photography, visual imaginings and independent readings of work around their learning journeys.

The exhibition title originally comes from a review by Mahmood Awan of the late Punjabi poet Nasreen Anjum Bhatti’s work “Shamlaat”, published in 2017 in Lahore. It discusses her liberatory poetry against the everyday oppression of women and across social classes as much as her practice of writing resistance creatively even towards the end of her life.

It captures the essence of our experiences in this project. Where notes of refusal against racism can be sweeping political demonstrations and physical agitation against the production of racism. And sometimes, they are the quiet and lyrical writings of poetry, cooking, making new homes and growing gardens. The finding of joy in new solidarities and ways of living together.

We would like to express gratitude for all the solidarity in making this project possible. This includes Warwick University for the funding. Guidance from Virinder Kalra, (Professor of Sociology at Warwick University) and Jagwant Johal, Secretary of Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG). Charanjeev Kaur as Project Facilitator kept all our students and the project together). Thank you to Bhushan and the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre for providing us with physical and community space. Georgia and Mo were particularly gracious with archival support from Smethwick Archives Centre, Peter at the Birmingham People’s History Archive, Wolfson Room Birmingham Archives, and the team at Smethwick Heritage Centre.

The public launch of the exhibition took place on the 6th of October 2024 at the Shaheed Udham Singh Centre

Artistic Contributors:

Alina Stennett-Mirza

Aryan Mann

Ashwin Patel

Charanjeev Kaur

Chih Ning Ou

Iman Khalil Mohammed

Krishan Patel

Mariyah Ali

Xi’an Loves

Project curation by Savita Vij & Jagdish Patel