In 1981 Black communities in Brixton first rose up in a bloody confrontation with the Metropolitan Police against a backdrop of racism, severe economic recession and high unemployment. For the first time in since the uprisings in 1981, we will tell the unheard stories of this exuberantly defiant act of rebellion that fundamentally changed Britain. 

To mark the 40th anniversary of the 81 Uprising, individuals, community groups and organisations are coming together to create 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance. 

Beginning on The Front Line in April 2021, 81 Acts will bring this history to the streets of Brixton throughout the year, as a radical reclaiming of heritage – to imagine, experiment and create new futures. 

Rethinking the community’s strategies of resistance and resilience currently being employed, 81 Acts brings together the exuberant diaspora of Brixton to share the historical context that lead to the uprising by highlighting the voices of those who were there.  

By examining the racial, financial and political issues, 81 Acts asks how, or if, these have changed in the last 40 years.