Inspirational Women

2EJ522N Claudette Colvin (b.1939). Portrait of the pioneer of the 1950s civil rights movement, taken in 1954. On March 2, 1955, she was arrested at the age of 15 in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman on a crowded, segregated bus. This occurred nine months before the more widely known incident in which Rosa Parks, helped spark the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott.

Claudette Colvin: The Teenage Revolutionary Who Ignited a Movement

In the spring of 1955, when the streets of Montgomery, Alabama, were still divided by the sharp lines…


MB65FY Foster mother Mrs Sybil Phoenix with some of her children in Lewisham in January 1973 the year she became the first black woman to receive an MBE.

The Inspiring Legacy of Reverend Sybil Phoenix OBE

In a world where the winds of history often blow harshly on those least able to protect themselves,…


1986: Diane Abbott, the new labour MP for Hackney and Stoke Newington makes history today (12/6/87). Miss Abbott, 32, a Cambridge graduate and a member of Labour's hard left, becomes the country's first black woman MP. Picture taken 18/2/86 when she was an equality officer for the union ACTT.

Diane Abbott: A Legacy of Courage, Change, and Endurance

In a political landscape that often marginalises those who dare to be different, Diane Abbott has stood tall…


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Black History Month

2026 LISTINGS

Birmingham Wednesday 21 October and Thursday 22 October 2026

Made You Look

Made You Look is a visceral and explosive one-man performance that blends spoken word, physical theatre, visual art…

Birmingham Wednesday 21st October – Thursday 22nd October 2026

Made You Look

Made You Look comes to Birmingham Rep for a powerful and immersive performance, offering a bold exploration of…

Coventry Wednesday 21st October 2026

Black History Month Showcase

Young performers take centre stage at Blue Coat Theatre for a special evening of music, dance, drama and…