From 1989 to 2012, Maxie served as the Chair of the Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit (BRAMU). During his leadership, he guided the organisation in addressing racial harassment and promoting justice for victims of racially motivated violence.
In 2010, under his leadership, BRAMU partnered with Birmingham City Council to host the first hate crime conference in the city, an event which Maxie led and organised in 2012.
Maxie played a key role in the development of several community organisations in Sandwell, often in a voluntary capacity. In 2001, he formed the Sandwell Racial Harassment Unit (SRHU) and chaired it from 2001 to 2003. Between 1998 and 2003, he also served as the Deputy Chair of the Sandwell Ethnic Minority Umbrella Forum (SEMUF).
Alongside his campaigning, Maxie worked in frontline services. From 1984 to 2008, he was employed as an Advice and Welfare Senior Project Worker at St. Basil’s Homeless Project, where he supported some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Maxie has also contributed significantly on the international stage. In 2000, he delivered a presentation to the General Assembly of the Committee for the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), highlighting the mass exclusion of African Caribbean males from schools in Britain. In 2003, he returned to CERD to present on deaths in custody, with a particular focus on cases in the United Kingdom. In 2001, he attended the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa, contributing to global discussions on racial discrimination and xenophobia.
Despite his international profile, Maxie has always prioritised local and national issues. Over the years, he has frequently been invited as a guest or keynote speaker. Highlights include:
Speaking at the annual Dr Martin Luther King tribute in Birmingham between 2012 and 2016.
Delivering a tribute to Nelson Mandela in 2014 at The New Testament Church of God in Birmingham.
Giving a speech on the community perspective of Stop and Search in 2012 at Community Roots in Birmingham.
Presenting oral and written evidence to the Sir William Macpherson Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence at Symphony Hall in 1998, representing six Black and Minority ethnic community groups.
Maxie has also chaired and supported several high-profile justice campaigns. He chaired the campaign for Alton Manning, who died in Blakenhurst Prison in 1995, until the landmark verdict of unlawful killing was achieved. From 2009 to 2019, he chaired the justice campaign for Julian Webster, who was unlawfully killed while being restrained by door staff in Manchester. In 2011, he chaired the campaign for Kingsley Burrell, who died following a cardiac arrest after being arrested during a disturbance.
He has also supported campaigns addressing the deaths of Black and Asian people in custody, the exclusion of young Black males from education, and the campaign for justice following the death of Ricky Reel, who was racially abused and later found dead in the River Thames. Beyond campaigning, Maxie has provided support, advice, and mentoring to individuals navigating the trauma of giving evidence and preparing for Employment Tribunal hearings relating to gender, disability, and racial discrimination.
In 2016, Maxie published his autobiography, Taking it to the Max, which was launched at the Palace of Westminster.
His dedication to justice and equality has also been reflected in his community service and accolades. With his wife, he has been a foster carer for vulnerable young people in Birmingham for more than 25 years. His awards and recognition include:
2000: Winner of the Prime Minister’s Regional and National Active Community Award.
2000: Recipient of the Community and Diversity Elders’ Award by New Nation newspaper.
2001–2011: Board member of the 1990 Trust.
2002–2005: Member of the Home Office Victim Advisory Panel.
2008: Presented with the 1990 Trust Lifetime Achievement Award by Rev. Jesse Jackson.
2011: Received the West Midlands Police Authority Community Service Award.
2013: Honoured with the Community Lifetime Achievement Award by Inspiring a Generation.
2015: Member of the Victim Law Forum, chaired by Sir Keir Starmer and co-chaired by Doreen Lawrence.
2015: Named Race Equality Campaigner of the Year at the Barclays European Diversity Awards.
2016: Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Blacksox Legacy Awards.
2017: Presented with a Community Champions Award from Bexlive.
2019: Runner-up for the Elders Award at the Birmingham Legacy Awards.
2020: Awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
2023: Conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by Coventry University.
When asked about what inspired her activism, Maxie says:
“The brutality towards our people, nationwide and globally, encouraged my participation as an activist, and not just an armchair activist. I march, I campaign, I rally. I was threatened by the BNP. I was sent death threats and monkey pictures through my door.”
