Oral History with Aba Graham

00:00 Introductions

1.26 Got involved with community work, advocated for the voiceless.

4:23 Ended up accepting racist slurs and language, felt alienated from the wider community.

6:53 Moved to Stockport, wanted a better life for her children.

7:47 Would acknowledge other people that ‘looked like her’; gave her comfort to know other people who were experiencing similar feelings, thoughts, and emotions.

8:35 Went to Manchester Metropolitan University to study criminology, had a desire to study the criminal mind

9:55 People should respect and understand each other to unify as a community

10:05 Went to work for Stockport Council as the first ever official BAME community officer.

11:44 Works with prisoners to aim towards rehabilitation and their voices being heard in society.

12:55 Developed a prisoner shop in the prison, wanted to enhance the sense of independence for prisoners.

13:55 Inequalities in the world are not necessary; they are down to the imbalance of power.

14:25 Aba unfortunately fell into ill health and had to spend eight weeks in hospital. She was let go from her job at the prison.

15:42 Began volunteering with Disability Stockport.

17:16 If we all work together the world could be a better place; important to start conversations and share resources. Aba emphasises the needs to make society a better place for future generations.

18:42 Lived a very privileged life in Africa which compared to her move to Britain.

21:20 Her move to Britain took a lot of her confidence away from her; she remembers ‘only trusting herself’.

22:04 She describes the period as a ‘lonely time’

24:25 Enjoys values of self-love & understanding others

25:10 Lack of provision for Black children in Stockport, the parents of the community grouped together to set up safe zones for young people.

26:37 The organisation set up by Aba and other parents of the Stockport Community was established in 2009. It has helped to transform the lives of young people creating leaders and encouraging people to become proud of their identity.

29:30 Many of the young people that needed the support of Aba and her organisation became employed in a range of sectors; some went into the army and one even became a head chef at a popular Deansgate restaurant.

31:17 We all make mistakes but there are always ways out.

32:39 Making people feel like valued members within society.

33:49 We should all be learning and working together for a better Stockport.

35:55 Aba hopes that in the future Stockport people will learn to become more open with one another in order to create more possibilities and opportunities.

37:10 Aba notes that she has never come across a Black Councillor

37:50 The idea behind collecting the stories of the Stockport community- what they add to the archive. Allows the ability for people to connect.

40:31 The time element of the project has been difficult due to COVID and the lockdown. Nevertheless, Aba has described the experience of working on the project as ‘exciting’, she has thoroughly enjoyed hearing people’s stories.