Patrick Vernon

Thursday 31 July 2025 – SUCOTETO Wreath of Remembrance, Hope and Healing

On Thursday 31 July 2025, the 3rd annual SUCOTETO gathering will take place at King Solomon International Business School in Birmingham, bringing communities together to honour the lives, labour, and legacies of those impacted by the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its enduring aftermath.

About SUCOTETO:
The SUCOTETO wreath is a powerful symbol composed of several meaningful elements: the brown represents the colour of coffee, cocoa, tea, and tobacco; the cotton flower signifies the role of cotton in the legacy of exploitation; the square symbolises the sugar cube; and the red dot honours the bloodshed resulting from slavery, activism, community struggles, war, and police violence. Ultimately, the deep dark red dot also represents God’s sacrifice and His rejection of racial discrimination, referencing John 3:16 and Acts 17:26, affirming that humanity is one blood, one race, one people. The wreath is not only a memorial but a tool for education and change, aimed at challenging institutional and systemic racism and raising aspirations globally.The event serves as a powerful space to reflect on the real cost of the things once harvested through forced labour and to remember the ancestors who resisted, survived, or perished under colonial systems of violence and profit.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr Erica McInnis, Director and Principal Psychologist at Nubian Wellness and Healing, who will speak on the psychological legacy of slavery and racial trauma, and pathways to community healing.

The programme also includes contributions from:

• Dr Patrick Vernon OBE, Honorary Professor and Pro-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton

• Ruth South, SUCOTETO Creator and Founder of CARE

• Ian Henery, poet, playwright, and radio presenter

• Jayonn South, youth speaker

• Dr Pedro Antonius, Director at RIBU (Research Institute Biblical Understanding)

• Yvonne Lee, special guest singer

• Esther Douglas, host and co-founder of CARE

Now in its third year, SUCOTETO continues to grow as a community-led space for remembrance, education, and recognition. In addition to talks and performances, awards of recognition will be presented to individuals and organisations who contribute to healing, awareness, and change.

The event recognises not only the history of slavery but also the ongoing impacts of racism and discrimination, and the role of activism, solidarity, and love in creating a more just future.

Event Details:

🗓 Date: Thursday 31 July 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Venue: King Solomon International Business School, Lord Street, Birmingham B7 4AA
🎟 Free entry | Onsite parking available
☕ Light refreshments provided | Donations welcome