This article was originally published in 2013
One thing Birmingham will be forever famous, or infamous for is its accent. A very particular sound, but one that is constantly mixed up with the numerous other accents that pepper the landscape of the Midlands. The Black Country is not Birmingham, Stoke is not Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry are not Birmingham. All have similar and yet distinct accents. Each also comes with its own slightly differing colloquialisms and dialects.
The Black Country, around Sandwell and Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton has a much stronger and wider pronunciation on the vowels (imagine a cat's 'meow' whenever you use the letter 'o'), and is also notorious for mixing up prepositions and almost every other form of grammar. It is common to be asked 'How am ya?' for 'How are you?' and 'Them are good' instead of 'Those are good'. In contrast, Solihull and Coventry have a longer and slower vowel pronunciation: Solihull would be 'Sew-lihull' rather than the 'Sow-lihull' from a Black Country accent.
As difficult as it is to discuss audible accents and pronunciations in writing, Birmingham sits nicely between these two (massively generalised, as even streets parallel to one and other can differ). Vowels tend to be quicker than both these other two accents, and there is a tendency to raise the tone of voice at the end of every word/sentence, as if asking a question. Of course, all of this is constantly changing and the numerous accents of the Midlands all sound the same to most outsiders, but for the communities within the region, each is as distinct as the next, and each has its own traits and rules. The best way to experience these would be to spend a week travelling the Midlands of Britain, or, for a cheaper experience, YouTube them.
Good examples: For Brummy: Ozzy Osbourne (though somewhat diluted thanks to America and amphetamines). Wolverhampton and Walsall: Noddy Holder or Frank Skinner. For Dudley, (mixed with Jamaica): Lenny Henry. For Sutton Coldfield: Cat Deeley. For Stoke-On-Trent: Robbie Williams.
Accents unite the population, and it is arguably one of the few links left, but even this is diversifying and evolving rapidly. Since the decline of Birmingham's industrial functions and with the rise in global migration, the cultures of the city have changed dramatically and it is now a huge and eclectic mix of dialects, ethnicities and religions. Migration into the city has led to a diverse range of peoples. Some of the oldest communities are Irish and from the West Indies and Caribbean but more recently many have formed from the Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent.
This has led to new tensions in recent years, but these are by no means the first. The 60s and 70s saw the first major wave migrant children coming of age and although Britain is famed for its tolerance and acceptance, racism and xenophobia still exist. It was often caused by misunderstanding and a lack of education, and through the formation of migrant communities in particular areas. The failure of the authorities to encourage integration and social cohesion simply exacerbated the issues further.
The politician and poet Enoch Powell is an infamous Brummy, whose 'Rivers of Blood' speech encapsulates the fears and tensions that existed between these emerging communities and the 'indigenous' British population. It is interesting to note that many of these fears still exist to this day in a minority of English people, most notably displayed by the misinformed right wing and nationalist movement- the English Defence League. (basically young men in tracksuits drinking Carling from a can and waving flags. Imagine the Royal Wedding but with balaclavas and less coherent chanting).
Large scale riots, of which a predominant factor was race, first erupted in the early 80s across Britain, sparked off by the Brixton Riots in London, when racial tensions reach breaking point thanks to heavy handed stop and search tactics by the police. The industries that had fuelled the influx of people from overseas in the 50s and 60s had declined dramatically in the 70s and the children of many workers found themselves with little employment opportunities when they reached working age, and the poorer districts quickly became racial hot beds where the youth of all race vied for the few jobs left and crime began to soar.
The police tactics in Brixton sparked fury amongst the largely African and Caribbean residents and these feelings spread northward. Handsworth was a particularly densely populated inner-city area with a strong West Indian community. The Victorian terraces of Birmingham were cheap and affordable to many newcomers and as was common, communities formed, drawn together through shared customs, beliefs and experiences.
These bonds can be seen throughout the districts and the series of riots in Handsworth in the 1980s highlighted the importance of tolerance and understanding by both the authorities and the residents of all communities. In the aftermath, greater understanding was encouraged and many communities flourished. Poverty within the inner-city districts still prevailed though, as the decline in industry worsened and migration to the areas through family links and the promise of jobs increased, leading to relative overcrowding and resulting tensions as different migrant communities tried to settle.
The 90s saw large communities from Asia begin to form and cement themselves as part of Birmingham's increasingly diverse population. In 2005, racial tensions in a district next to Handsworth (Lozelles) exploded in a riot between Black British and Asian British youths after an alleged rape. The close proximity of different cultures and relative poverty in the area (famed for its gang cultures and gun crime) again highlighted the on-going clashes of culture that all large cities face.
To combat this, the city has repeatedly encouraged interaction and promoted the benefits of difference and cultural exploration. Birmingham, once the home of industry and machinery is now famed for its large markets and varied shops selling produce from all over the world. It has the world famous 'Balti Triangle' in the central south east of the city, where cuisine from all parts of Asia can be tasted, and the British Indian Takeway and Balti/Tandoori tradition was arguably invented.
There is also a thriving Chinese Quarter and Hurst Street is well known for its Gay Community. Both are home to supermarkets and restaurants as well as a significant amount of clubs and pubs. The city also annually plays host to the second largest St Patrick's Day parade in the world, obviously in the Irish Quarter. Birmingham, like much of the UK, is largely tolerant and passive, although the districts are still very divided by race and culture, with most areas almost solely inhabited by either White, Black or Asian communities, with very little integration. In time this is likely to change as the younger generations grow up, having lived with a much more racially diverse and tolerant society.
The 2000s has seen an influx of eastern European cultures as the union has expanded. These migrants have bought with them more new and unique customs that have all added further elements to the rich tapestry of life in Birmingham. A trip through the city can effectively take you to any part of the world in a few short hours, and there is a genuine opportunity to experience hundreds of different cultures. This is arguably the most diverse place outside of London, which is arguably the most diverse city on Earth, a truly global metropolis. There are tensions, and there are problems, but as each generation grows it becomes more and more understanding, and that is in essence the British culture, one of tolerance and acceptance and something which Birmingham and the UK prides itself on.
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