Express & Star

Smethwick playwright's plea for Malcolm X memories

Smethwick playwright Paul Magson has been awarded Arts Council England funding to write a new play about Malcolm X’s little-known visit to Smethwick during the heyday of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Published
Malcolm X visits Marshall Street in Smethwick

The play will tell the story from the perspective of local people who met or saw the infamous American figure, who was assassinated just nine days later. Malcolm X was invited to Smethwick in 1965 by the Indian Workers Association, among reports of strained race relations. Conservative MP for the town, Peter Griffiths, was backing a campaign to prevent black and Asian families from obtaining houses in Marshall Street.

Griffiths had sensationally taken the Smethwick parliamentary seat from Labour the previous year.

Paul is keen to talk to local Smethwick residents who may have met the US civil rights activist, which included a visit to a local school, The Blue Gates Pub and Marshall Street itself.

Paul says: “I want to bring to life the voices of local people who met Malcolm X during his visit.

“You may have met him yourself, or your parents or grandparents have passed down their memories to you. I’d love to meet you to hear more.’

To share your story or memory please contact marshallstreetplay@hotmail.com or call Paul on 07376294626. ‘Marshall Street’ will be performed by a professional cast in September and October at six local venues in Smethwick and Birmingham, with a full performance and tour details to be published this summer.

Paul is a playwright, artist and performer born and raised in Smethwick and the play is funded by Arts Council England.

Malcolm X visited Smethwick on February 12, 54 years ago, to investigate the treatment of black and Asian workers and families in Smethwick. A blue plaque to commemorate the visit can now be seen in Marshall Street.

Malcolm X was shot during a rally in New York on February 21, 1965.