Handsworth Riots - Twenty Summers On
Encyclopedia
Handsworth Riots - Twenty Summers On is the name of an exhibition of photographs taken by Birmingham
film maker and photographer Pogus Caesar
during and in the wake of the Handsworth Riots
, 9th - 11 September 1985.
September 1985: The days are warm and sunny, thousands of dancing revellers many in brightly coloured costumes are pouring into the streets of Handsworth
, an area of Birmingham
, Great Britain
well known for its rich and vibrant cultural mix. Most people who attend the annual Handsworth Carnival on the Saturday and Sunday say it has been an overwhelming success.
At approximately 5pm on Monday 9 September an African Caribbean man is arrested near the Acapulco Cafe, Lozells Road for a traffic offence.
Soon a crowd consisting of African Caribbean, Asian
and British
people ask the police to let the man go - the police refuse the request and the situation escalates into a riot. By 7.30pm the Villa Cross Bingo Hall and Social Club is on fire, firemen try and control the flames but the crowd say "let it burn".
Between 8pm and midnight cars are set alight, shops are looted and residents are forced to leave their homes. 11.30pm police take back control of the Lozells Road area after hours of looting and burning.
What is now known as the Handsworth Riots
lasted for two days. In the aftermath well over 1500 police officers were drafted into the area and 50 shops were either burnt or looted. Damage to property was estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds. 35 people were either injured or hospitalised, two people unaccounted for and two people lost their lives.
This year 2005 is the 20th anniversary of the events that exploded onto the streets of Lozells
and Handsworth. Even today people still ask the question "how could a tiny spark turn into such a gigantic flame"?
An online exhibition from the Pogus Caesar
/ OOM Gallery Archives as part of British Black History Month 2005
External Ref:
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
film maker and photographer Pogus Caesar
Pogus Caesar
Pogus Caesar is a British artist, television producer and director. He was born in St Kitts, West Indies, and grew up in Birmingham, England.-History:...
during and in the wake of the Handsworth Riots
Handsworth riots
The Handsworth riots may refer to:* 1981 Handsworth riots* 1985 Handsworth riots* 1991 Handsworth riots...
, 9th - 11 September 1985.
September 1985: The days are warm and sunny, thousands of dancing revellers many in brightly coloured costumes are pouring into the streets of Handsworth
Handsworth, West Midlands
Handsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
, an area of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
well known for its rich and vibrant cultural mix. Most people who attend the annual Handsworth Carnival on the Saturday and Sunday say it has been an overwhelming success.
At approximately 5pm on Monday 9 September an African Caribbean man is arrested near the Acapulco Cafe, Lozells Road for a traffic offence.
Soon a crowd consisting of African Caribbean, Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
people ask the police to let the man go - the police refuse the request and the situation escalates into a riot. By 7.30pm the Villa Cross Bingo Hall and Social Club is on fire, firemen try and control the flames but the crowd say "let it burn".
Between 8pm and midnight cars are set alight, shops are looted and residents are forced to leave their homes. 11.30pm police take back control of the Lozells Road area after hours of looting and burning.
What is now known as the Handsworth Riots
Handsworth riots
The Handsworth riots may refer to:* 1981 Handsworth riots* 1985 Handsworth riots* 1991 Handsworth riots...
lasted for two days. In the aftermath well over 1500 police officers were drafted into the area and 50 shops were either burnt or looted. Damage to property was estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds. 35 people were either injured or hospitalised, two people unaccounted for and two people lost their lives.
This year 2005 is the 20th anniversary of the events that exploded onto the streets of Lozells
Lozells
Lozells is a loosely-defined inner-city area in the West of Birmingham, England. It is centred on Lozells Road, and is known for its multi-racial population. It is part of the ward of Lozells and East Handsworth and lies between the districts of Handsworth and Aston.Lozells has a high population...
and Handsworth. Even today people still ask the question "how could a tiny spark turn into such a gigantic flame"?
An online exhibition from the Pogus Caesar
Pogus Caesar
Pogus Caesar is a British artist, television producer and director. He was born in St Kitts, West Indies, and grew up in Birmingham, England.-History:...
/ OOM Gallery Archives as part of British Black History Month 2005
External Ref: