Inspired by the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, “We Rise” channels the resilience and hope of civil rights trailblazers. The boycott was a significant protest against the Bristol Omnibus Company’s refusal to employ Black or Asian bus crews, leading to a landmark victory in the UK civil rights movement. The track was commissioned by Bristol Beacon and Curiosity UnLtd, delivered by Aspiration Creation Elevation CIC (ACE), and produced in the heart of the Bus Boycott movement at Docklands Community Centre in St Pauls.
Laila Richardson, known as Elarbe, reflects on the personal significance of the project: “My Grandmother was part of the Windrush generation, so this project feels very personal. I want young people to feel like they can have a voice when it comes to history. I want to show that there’s things you can do as a young person that can make a change.”
