Brixton, South London
Brixton lies in the south London borough of Lambeth and is one of the 35 major centres of greater London. Like all of London, Brixton is a multiethnic community but a large percentage of those are of Caribbean descent and that is reflected in the 'feel' of this primarily residential area.
In the early 1980's riots ravaged the area due to frustrations about high unemployment amongst the Caribbean immigrant population. News reports were quick to point the finger entirely at the community themselves while ignoring any underlying issues. As a reaction to the media coverage Eddy Grant wrote the song 'Electric Avenue' which reached No.2 in both the UK and US charts at the time.
In 1999 a Neo-Nazi lunatic planted a nail bomb outside a supermarket on Brixton Road with the intention of starting a race war across the country. A suspicious market trader moved the bag around the corner to a less crowded area, Electric Avenue, the bomb detonated injuring 39 but the local population were not going to be played that way and the plan was a failure.
The actual street 'Electric Avenue' was built in 1880 and given the name because it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Nowadays there's a wonderful market at Brixton, part of which spans Electric Avenue. There's also a Black Cultural Archive, and 'Pop Brixton' which is a series of shops and eateries created using stacked sea containers. Close to Windrush Square 'The Ritzy' still dominates the scene, a non-chain cinema and cafe it has become a Brixton icon with it's beautiful facade giving a nod to the former glory of the area.
All of these things are just a step away from Brixton Tube station and well worth the short hop down there, if the history of this unpolished jewel isn't enough to make you visit, then think of the spectacular street food available throughout the area and maybe you'll be hopping on the tube for a Caribbean lunch tomorrow.
In the early 1980's riots ravaged the area due to frustrations about high unemployment amongst the Caribbean immigrant population. News reports were quick to point the finger entirely at the community themselves while ignoring any underlying issues. As a reaction to the media coverage Eddy Grant wrote the song 'Electric Avenue' which reached No.2 in both the UK and US charts at the time.
In 1999 a Neo-Nazi lunatic planted a nail bomb outside a supermarket on Brixton Road with the intention of starting a race war across the country. A suspicious market trader moved the bag around the corner to a less crowded area, Electric Avenue, the bomb detonated injuring 39 but the local population were not going to be played that way and the plan was a failure.
The actual street 'Electric Avenue' was built in 1880 and given the name because it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Nowadays there's a wonderful market at Brixton, part of which spans Electric Avenue. There's also a Black Cultural Archive, and 'Pop Brixton' which is a series of shops and eateries created using stacked sea containers. Close to Windrush Square 'The Ritzy' still dominates the scene, a non-chain cinema and cafe it has become a Brixton icon with it's beautiful facade giving a nod to the former glory of the area.
All of these things are just a step away from Brixton Tube station and well worth the short hop down there, if the history of this unpolished jewel isn't enough to make you visit, then think of the spectacular street food available throughout the area and maybe you'll be hopping on the tube for a Caribbean lunch tomorrow.