[Music] so thanks so in April this year this
so thanks so in April this year this
so thanks so in April this year this photo was taken of me at needy alderman
photo was taken of me at needy alderman
photo was taken of me at needy alderman by him it kind of spanned lots of press
by him it kind of spanned lots of press
by him it kind of spanned lots of press media trended on various platforms and
media trended on various platforms and
media trended on various platforms and things and at the time I was labeled as
things and at the time I was labeled as
things and at the time I was labeled as an activist and at one point almost
an activist and at one point almost
an activist and at one point almost became smallest my name is Sofia Kahn
became smallest my name is Sofia Kahn
became smallest my name is Sofia Kahn activist Brahmi activist pictured in
activist Brahmi activist pictured in
activist Brahmi activist pictured in photo and at the time I couldn’t work
photo and at the time I couldn’t work
photo and at the time I couldn’t work out why it was that I felt almost
out why it was that I felt almost
out why it was that I felt almost uncomfortable introducing myself like
uncomfortable introducing myself like
uncomfortable introducing myself like that or being labeled as that I’m gonna
that or being labeled as that I’m gonna
that or being labeled as that I’m gonna go into a little bit about that in this
go into a little bit about that in this
go into a little bit about that in this talk today and that’s completely
talk today and that’s completely
talk today and that’s completely contradictory to why I’ve put activists
contradictory to why I’ve put activists
contradictory to why I’ve put activists my bio on Instagram that’s purely
my bio on Instagram that’s purely
my bio on Instagram that’s purely business so um so I work now as a
business so um so I work now as a
business so um so I work now as a photographer and obviously photographer
photographer and obviously photographer
photographer and obviously photographer bisque Joe Gibbons did a really amazing
bisque Joe Gibbons did a really amazing
bisque Joe Gibbons did a really amazing job and I’m gonna try and explain to you
job and I’m gonna try and explain to you
job and I’m gonna try and explain to you a my issue the word activist be–how
a my issue the word activist be–how
a my issue the word activist be–how ends up in this picture and see a time
ends up in this picture and see a time
ends up in this picture and see a time live it up photo photography using a
live it up photo photography using a
live it up photo photography using a photography analogy
so I’m just taking a picture of you all
so I’m just taking a picture of you all and that leads to questions sorry it
and that leads to questions sorry it
and that leads to questions sorry it leads to questions first of all what
leads to questions first of all what
leads to questions first of all what process led to me taking that picture
process led to me taking that picture
process led to me taking that picture I’ve just took all the volume II now and
I’ve just took all the volume II now and
I’ve just took all the volume II now and the second question is what process led
the second question is what process led
the second question is what process led up to me being in a bat picture and how
up to me being in a bat picture and how
up to me being in a bat picture and how are they similar so for me I spelled it
are they similar so for me I spelled it
are they similar so for me I spelled it down to four steps step one that’s me at
down to four steps step one that’s me at
down to four steps step one that’s me at 14 I started getting politically engaged
14 I started getting politically engaged
14 I started getting politically engaged and I remember that start because I saw
and I remember that start because I saw
and I remember that start because I saw the EDL come to Birmingham in 2013
the EDL come to Birmingham in 2013
the EDL come to Birmingham in 2013 I saw the resulting riots I saw the
I saw the resulting riots I saw the
I saw the resulting riots I saw the police presence I saw the arrests and I
police presence I saw the arrests and I
police presence I saw the arrests and I realized that really wasn’t for me and
realized that really wasn’t for me and
realized that really wasn’t for me and then I started seeing the videos of
then I started seeing the videos of
then I started seeing the videos of anti-racist groups and anti-fascist
anti-racist groups and anti-fascist
anti-racist groups and anti-fascist groups and local Brumbies and people who
groups and local Brumbies and people who
groups and local Brumbies and people who weren’t affiliates necessarily with a
weren’t affiliates necessarily with a
weren’t affiliates necessarily with a group but it felt like that shouldn’t
group but it felt like that shouldn’t
group but it felt like that shouldn’t exist in their town I did something
exist in their town I did something
exist in their town I did something about it and that’s when I focused in
about it and that’s when I focused in
about it and that’s when I focused in the same way you can focus in with a
the same way you can focus in with a
the same way you can focus in with a camera I realized what it was to me that
camera I realized what it was to me that
camera I realized what it was to me that was really important
was really important
was really important I became politically engaged I decided
I became politically engaged I decided
I became politically engaged I decided what my work my political journey was
what my work my political journey was
what my work my political journey was gonna head towards another thing
gonna head towards another thing
gonna head towards another thing identified as being important was class
identified as being important was class
identified as being important was class struggle which I put lots of things in
struggle which I put lots of things in
struggle which I put lots of things in those terms including racism and things
those terms including racism and things
those terms including racism and things like that and more specifically in this
like that and more specifically in this
like that and more specifically in this case I decided that public spaces and
case I decided that public spaces and
case I decided that public spaces and accessibility to the 99% it was what I
accessibility to the 99% it was what I
accessibility to the 99% it was what I was gonna focus on I was gonna dedicate
was gonna focus on I was gonna dedicate
was gonna focus on I was gonna dedicate my time to so step two these are some
my time to so step two these are some
my time to so step two these are some pictures from a campaign that I was part
pictures from a campaign that I was part
pictures from a campaign that I was part of called towards people’s library a
of called towards people’s library a
of called towards people’s library a couple years ago and an example of this
couple years ago and an example of this
couple years ago and an example of this it kind of shows me zooming in I was
it kind of shows me zooming in I was
it kind of shows me zooming in I was zooming in on what was going on in my
zooming in on what was going on in my
zooming in on what was going on in my community in my local area in my town
community in my local area in my town
community in my local area in my town Birmingham and I was working out what
Birmingham and I was working out what
Birmingham and I was working out what problems there were and how it was that
problems there were and how it was that
problems there were and how it was that I was gonna apply myself and try and fix
I was gonna apply myself and try and fix
I was gonna apply myself and try and fix them through campaigning and direct
them through campaigning and direct
them through campaigning and direct action things so couple years ago
action things so couple years ago
action things so couple years ago bourbon library soon after it was open
bourbon library soon after it was open
bourbon library soon after it was open actually ran out of funding and they ran
actually ran out of funding and they ran
actually ran out of funding and they ran out of funding to keep opening hours the
out of funding to keep opening hours the
out of funding to keep opening hours the same as when they were when its first
same as when they were when its first
same as when they were when its first opened to make sure they weren’t further
opened to make sure they weren’t further
opened to make sure they weren’t further staff cuts and things like that lets me
staff cuts and things like that lets me
staff cuts and things like that lets me meet were led me to believe the space
meet were led me to believe the space
meet were led me to believe the space was no longer a public library because
was no longer a public library because
was no longer a public library because it wasn’t accessible to the public
it wasn’t accessible to the public
it wasn’t accessible to the public families who worked nine to five jobs
families who worked nine to five jobs
families who worked nine to five jobs and maybe only had Sundays off with our
and maybe only had Sundays off with our
and maybe only had Sundays off with our kids
kids
kids couldn’t go to Boheme central library
couldn’t go to Boheme central library
couldn’t go to Boheme central library because Berman Central Library wasn’t
because Berman Central Library wasn’t
because Berman Central Library wasn’t open on a Sunday and students and
open on a Sunday and students and
open on a Sunday and students and students from colleges and you nice and
students from colleges and you nice and
students from colleges and you nice and school can use a space either because it
school can use a space either because it
school can use a space either because it closed at 5:00 p.m. so that was the
closed at 5:00 p.m. so that was the
closed at 5:00 p.m. so that was the point in which I realized that Boehm
point in which I realized that Boehm
point in which I realized that Boehm Central Library the public library was
Central Library the public library was
Central Library the public library was no longer a public library and there was
no longer a public library and there was
no longer a public library and there was an issue of accessibility then there was
an issue of accessibility then there was
an issue of accessibility then there was an issue of accessibility for the 99%
an issue of accessibility for the 99%
an issue of accessibility for the 99% for the working classes so I decided
for the working classes so I decided
for the working classes so I decided that I was gonna get involved with this
that I was gonna get involved with this
that I was gonna get involved with this campaign and that involved the group
campaign and that involved the group
campaign and that involved the group that I was working with having meetings
that I was working with having meetings
that I was working with having meetings with trade unions and weekly meetings
with trade unions and weekly meetings
with trade unions and weekly meetings within ourselves and weekly sit-ins
within ourselves and weekly sit-ins
within ourselves and weekly sit-ins protests and then events that led to
protests and then events that led to
protests and then events that led to bigger things which involve the arts and
bigger things which involve the arts and
bigger things which involve the arts and food and socializing and things and
food and socializing and things and
food and socializing and things and eventually after quite a few weeks doing
eventually after quite a few weeks doing
eventually after quite a few weeks doing my GCSEs we managed to get the opening
my GCSEs we managed to get the opening
my GCSEs we managed to get the opening hours reinstated which was a success for
hours reinstated which was a success for
hours reinstated which was a success for us can I get a la that was a massive
us can I get a la that was a massive
us can I get a la that was a massive success for us looking back in an hour
success for us looking back in an hour
success for us looking back in an hour we realized that the reason the opening
we realized that the reason the opening
we realized that the reason the opening hours were reinstated had some issues to
hours were reinstated had some issues to
hours were reinstated had some issues to do with privatization of floors which
do with privatization of floors which
do with privatization of floors which means the campaign’s gonna be revisited
means the campaign’s gonna be revisited
means the campaign’s gonna be revisited but this was the first time that I got
but this was the first time that I got
but this was the first time that I got engaged in a local level which is always
engaged in a local level which is always
engaged in a local level which is always really important is often overlooked
really important is often overlooked
really important is often overlooked grassroots political work so the next
grassroots political work so the next
grassroots political work so the next step for me I work as a photographer now
step for me I work as a photographer now
step for me I work as a photographer now and I got involved soon after my GCSEs
and I got involved soon after my GCSEs
and I got involved soon after my GCSEs with photography using the camera my mum
with photography using the camera my mum
with photography using the camera my mum gave me which is if you don’t think my
gave me which is if you don’t think my
gave me which is if you don’t think my cameras is an icon d40 which really
cameras is an icon d40 which really
cameras is an icon d40 which really isn’t that good but I’ve evolved a bit
isn’t that good but I’ve evolved a bit
isn’t that good but I’ve evolved a bit of an emotion attachment to it so my
of an emotion attachment to it so my
of an emotion attachment to it so my step next is usually before I take a
step next is usually before I take a
step next is usually before I take a photo
photo
photo Izu mout so no matter how far I’ve
Izu mout so no matter how far I’ve
Izu mout so no matter how far I’ve jumped in and decided what project it is
jumped in and decided what project it is
jumped in and decided what project it is only part of a zoom out again I take a
only part of a zoom out again I take a
only part of a zoom out again I take a step back and I look at it in a way
step back and I look at it in a way
step back and I look at it in a way regarding how can I best apply myself
regarding how can I best apply myself
regarding how can I best apply myself and that usually involves a bit of
and that usually involves a bit of
and that usually involves a bit of self-reflection working out what your
self-reflection working out what your
self-reflection working out what your personal skills are working out how it
personal skills are working out how it
personal skills are working out how it is that you can apply yourself to to
is that you can apply yourself to to
is that you can apply yourself to to best better the collective aim that
best better the collective aim that
best better the collective aim that you’re going for so I became involved
you’re going for so I became involved
you’re going for so I became involved with a group embalming ham another local
with a group embalming ham another local
with a group embalming ham another local group called punch records and they gave
group called punch records and they gave
group called punch records and they gave me opportunity to create a photo
me opportunity to create a photo
me opportunity to create a photo documentary of a ten week project based
documentary of a ten week project based
documentary of a ten week project based at two youth centres you can see the
at two youth centres you can see the
at two youth centres you can see the Concord Youth Centre in South Birmingham
Concord Youth Centre in South Birmingham
Concord Youth Centre in South Birmingham and the lighthouse in North Birmingham
and the lighthouse in North Birmingham
and the lighthouse in North Birmingham and I work for 10 weeks in the
and I work for 10 weeks in the
and I work for 10 weeks in the background as kids started this project
background as kids started this project
background as kids started this project with little performance experience
with little performance experience
with little performance experience little you know kind of professional
little you know kind of professional
little you know kind of professional skills but they all had an interesting
skills but they all had an interesting
skills but they all had an interesting music to the point where 10 weeks down
music to the point where 10 weeks down
music to the point where 10 weeks down the line that performance medic mellow
the line that performance medic mellow
the line that performance medic mellow which you can see in the top picture and
which you can see in the top picture and
which you can see in the top picture and that was an amazing experience to follow
that was an amazing experience to follow
that was an amazing experience to follow down and see the progress of these young
down and see the progress of these young
down and see the progress of these young people and that was me applying myself
people and that was me applying myself
people and that was me applying myself in the best way that I knew how as a
in the best way that I knew how as a
in the best way that I knew how as a photographer offering my skills up to a
photographer offering my skills up to a
photographer offering my skills up to a community project and the project itself
community project and the project itself
community project and the project itself was really important to me as well
was really important to me as well
was really important to me as well because again it was young kids who
because again it was young kids who
because again it was young kids who maybe wouldn’t have always had the same
maybe wouldn’t have always had the same
maybe wouldn’t have always had the same opportunities because they they went to
opportunities because they they went to
opportunities because they they went to youth Center’s getting the opportunities
youth Center’s getting the opportunities
youth Center’s getting the opportunities that everyone else should be able to get
that everyone else should be able to get
that everyone else should be able to get and it means it was a is a project of
and it means it was a is a project of
and it means it was a is a project of all the accessibility and after that
all the accessibility and after that
all the accessibility and after that said quite recently it clicked for me
said quite recently it clicked for me
said quite recently it clicked for me the same way a shutter does it clicked
the same way a shutter does it clicked
the same way a shutter does it clicked for me why it was that I was
for me why it was that I was
for me why it was that I was uncomfortable being labeled an activist
uncomfortable being labeled an activist
uncomfortable being labeled an activist and I can explain it now in a way I was
and I can explain it now in a way I was
and I can explain it now in a way I was unable to before and I can articulate it
unable to before and I can articulate it
unable to before and I can articulate it I don’t think the word activist should
I don’t think the word activist should
I don’t think the word activist should exist and that’s quite a bold statement
exist and that’s quite a bold statement
exist and that’s quite a bold statement because we always associate it with
because we always associate it with
because we always associate it with positive things but why is that it’s
positive things but why is that it’s
positive things but why is that it’s because the term activist exists to
because the term activist exists to
because the term activist exists to describe people that are more active in
describe people that are more active in
describe people that are more active in the community more active in society and
the community more active in society and
the community more active in society and I don’t think that should exist just as
I don’t think that should exist just as
I don’t think that should exist just as a term I think everyone should have some
a term I think everyone should have some
a term I think everyone should have some knowledge what’s going on grassroots in
knowledge what’s going on grassroots in
knowledge what’s going on grassroots in their communities some engagement some
their communities some engagement some
their communities some engagement some intention to better things in a
intention to better things in a
intention to better things in a selflessness and I think that’s
selflessness and I think that’s
selflessness and I think that’s everyone’s capable of that as well so
everyone’s capable of that as well so
everyone’s capable of that as well so the picture taken of me oh the picture
the picture taken of me oh the picture
the picture taken of me oh the picture taken of me could have been anyone it
taken of me could have been anyone it
taken of me could have been anyone it was completely chance and in my utopia
was completely chance and in my utopia
was completely chance and in my utopia it would be due to chance because
it would be due to chance because
it would be due to chance because everyone had the same opportunity so I
everyone had the same opportunity so I
everyone had the same opportunity so I say be active not an activist thank you
say be active not an activist thank you
say be active not an activist thank you [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
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