Here at the Women’s Economic Forum, they are talking culture. What is it and why is it important?
There’s a range of experts and they are clever, sharp and incisive. Questions from the floor? They are beginning to dread the Swingerella hand shooting up faster than a Digbeth junkie at a bus stop.
It wasn’t a question from me though. It was a statement – a positive testimony to Birmingham – to what I have seen as I have been teaching in colleges around the city.
It’s so diverse. It celebrates difference. It’s tolerant. It’s curious about others. Where else other than Birmingham could you see a Chinese girl hand in hand with an African boy, two gender fluid students openly kissing under an umbrella in the endless rain – or me (the crazy blonde with the broken boot) teaching girls in full hijab?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jap6XjQzflA&w=420&h=315]
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In Birmingham – whether we realise it or not – we are existing side by side and we are not only tolerating each other – we are mixing, living together, loving together and teaching each other to respect that which is not our own. In some ways, Birmingham is like a perfect step-parent.
So the Swingerella hand shot up. The girl with the microphone paled. But for once I was not going to say something they have to censor for their sanitised YouTube channel. I praised Birmingham for its true multicultural success. And people from all over the world sat and smiled and praised Birmingham too – even if they didn’t know where it was. I love Birmingham like a father. A stepfather. I think this laptop is melting (50 degrees and climbing). x
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k25-NMNWB5w]
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You can find me online at www.swingerella.co.uk, and on Twitter and YouTube.
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Swingerella
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Swingerella is a comedienne, compere and self-proclaimed “Goddess of Fabulousness” who is currently campaigning against domestic violence as part of the Goddess Foundation. You can follow her on Twitter @Swingerella.
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