Race History Detectives Course – Seeking the Pioneers
21–22 February 2026 | 10:00am–5:00pm
Location: BRIG Café at the Warehouse, 54–57 Allison Street, Birmingham, B5 5TH
The Seeking the Pioneers project offers another exciting opportunity for young people, students and community members to become Race History Detectives.
The Race History Detectives course is an accredited, community-focused training programme. The programme enables participants to research, document, and preserve Birmingham’s often-overlooked history of anti-racist activism, supporting BRIG’s vision of a truly anti-racist city by 2035 and our move to Beyond Racism.
Now in its second year, the programme has been developed by academics and community activists for accreditation and will be delivered as an intensive two-day, in-person course. The Race History Detectives promotes intergenerational learning, leadership and community responsibility.
The weekend format responds to participant feedback and allows learners to complete the full programme while maintaining a safe space for sensitive discussions.
Course Content
Participants will explore the following topics over the 2 days:
Race, power, and social construction
Slavery, colonialism, empire and their lasting legacies
Birmingham’s migration history, contribution, and resistance
Leadership, voice, and “passing the baton”
Activism from historical movements to civic action
Oral history methods, ethics, and use of equipment
Skills and Experience
Participants will gain practical experience in:
Historical and archival research
Oral history interviewing
Storytelling
Community engagement
Values-based leadership
Who It’s For
Open to community members, students, activists, creatives, and anyone interested in race, heritage, and social justice.
Registration
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register for the February 2026 cohort, please click here.