Community features

Approximately 29.6% of people living in Birmingham are now from a non-white background. That percentage is increasing with a prediction of Birmingham becoming the first city in the UK to become majority ethnic.

‘The Race’ debate documentary

The Race is a powerful thought provoking documentary made by two local filmmakers.

Filmmaker Ravi Singh (Burnt Out Productions)  explains: "I was inspired to make this film because I was intrigued why so many people were drifting towards the BNP when it came to voting at election time.

Filmmaker Mark Corden (Perpetual Motion) adds: "I have a background in documentary film-making and a keen interest in politics.  Hearing about the election of a BNP candidate to the Birmingham council galvenised me into investigating this unprecedented event. 

"I wanted to know what the lay of the land was in Birmingham regarding ethnicity, immigration, and the nature of Britishness."

Racism or pride?

The documentary explores the controversial issues of race, immigration and community cohesion in the city since the BNP council seat gain in Birmingham.

Sharon’s response to her critics is: “The politics in this country is failing the British person, it doesn’t address their needs at a grass roots level. I can relate to them fully and I do genuinely care."

The debate

In September 2006 Sharon was expelled from the party due to reasons that have yet to be explained. She moved on to set up the New Nationalist Party (NNP).

Watch 'The Race'

Watch The Race documentary below split into topical sections and join in the debate on our messageboard.

Kingstanding and the BNP

In the May 2006 local elections BNP Councillor Sharon Ebanks was declared the winner for the Kingstanding ward which sparked controversy on the city’s council.

(Quotes from the film...)

Bishop Joe Aldred (Birmingham Churches Together): “Approximately 30,000 people in England voted for the BNP in the May 2006 elections which is quite startling. We have to try and engage in a dialogue with the party and understand their reasoning."

Sharon Ebanks: “The majority of people living in Kingstanding are British people so we are able to understand their situations and relate to them fully.”

Watch The Race (Part 1) – Kingstanding and the BNP

What is Britishness?

What does it now mean to be British?

(Quotes from the film...)

Kahlid Mahmood: “It’s about people living in a society and appreciating the lifestyle within the laws and rights of this nation.”

Sharon Ebanks: “British people are becoming extinct.

Opinion on the street: “My definition of Britishness is to uphold the law and abide by the rules of the country. My parents came into this country and worked really hard. I’m proud to be British.”

Dr Mohammed Naseem (Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque): “We are all contributing to the British culture.”

Watch The Race (Part 2) - What is Britishness?

Race and Immigration

(Quotes from the film...)

Sharon Ebanks: “ I‘m absolutely against immigration into this country as it stands today. It causes fractures within communities and it’s affecting the job market and the education of our British children."

Siobhan Harper Nunes: “In Birmingham there’s a beautiful variety of cultures. People form tight groups when they come into this country because they are afraid of racism and the reaction on the community they will be joining."

Watch The Race ( Part 3 )  -  Race and Immigration in Birmingham

Multiculturalism

(Quotes from the film...)

How has multiculturalism affected the social and political fabric of British society?

Rabbi Leonard Tann (Birmingham Hebrew Congregation): “Multiculturalism works if people are brought together, talk together and understand each other on an equal basis."

Opinion on the street: “We have so many people from different countries, backgrounds and faiths here. Everyone is coming together and uniting within the UK.”

Watch The Race ( Part 4 )  -  Multiculturalism

Final thoughts

(Quotes from the film...)

Sharon Ebanks: "Enoch Powell’s description of immigration and what it would do in our communities has absolutely come to pass.

"They are coming in and ground rules are being laid down especially for them which enable segregation and that’s extremely dangerous."

Rabbi Leonard Tann: "We live in a modern world where people are moving around to find better lives for themselves. The concept of we can 'protect our own little island' is nonsense."

Watch The Race (Part 5) – Final thoughts

Have your say

What are your thoughts on the views expressed in ‘The Race’ documentary? Join the debate on our message board.

_{(NB. The Race was filmed and produced by Birmingham based film production companies Burned Out and Perpetual Motion)}