IT's not been a banner year for race relations. After the pivotal low point of suicide bombers surprising London, there followed numerous reports of a knee-jerk, ignorant backlash against all Asians regardless of whether victims were Sikh, Hindu or Muslim.

So this year, especially, the annual Black History Month arrives loaded with significance. But it faces up to that fanfare with a rangy selection of shows and events that express the simple fact that despite the woeful efforts of the few (suicide bombers or racists), our cities are home to 'multicultural Britain'.

This contemporary context is expressed well in Benjamin's Britain: a gallery show rooted in multiculturalism and curated by respected poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah. Given free rein over the gallery space, Zephaniah has made a salient selection of photographs that were culled from the National Portrait Gallery and other sources.

Lee 'Sratch' Perry

The images are loosely grouped in categories: 'People' (a broad spectrum including those with disfigured faces or birthmarks), 'Animals' (eg lambs, though it's because of his commitment to veganism rather than his awareness of poetic symbolism), 'Punky Reggae Party' (he's a music lover - even previously making an album with the ever enigmatic Lee 'Scratch' Perry, whose portrait is included here) and, perhaps most surprisingly, 'British Islam'. It's a rangy array that peaks - like great art - with some gracefully shocking images.

"I just thought to myself 'what do I think one of the most important things is now?'. I started to think of several things," says a calm and considered Zephaniah. "So I did an exhibition with a few themes, generally under the banner of ‘identity’ but as a kind of reaction to some of the negativity that's going on."

As we said, it's not been a good year for race relations. And as a self-confessed "part-Jamaican, part-Brummie", identity is a key subject considered by Zephaniah.

TO read the rest of this feature buy this week's City Life (issue 607). Out now priced £1.50.

Benjamin's Britain is on at Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street until Sunday, January 8. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm. Entrance is free. Tweet