Black History Month: Origins and Activities
An Overview of the Event and its Beginnings
Oct 16, 2008
The festival has been celebrated across the UK every October for over thirty years, each year growing from strength to strength. Black History Month is a time when society highlights and celebrates the achievements of the black community and uncovers hidden history about British communities.
Why Have a Black History Month?
The month exists to highlight and celebrate Black contributions to British society. Some people may wonder why anyone needs a Black History Month, but the reality is that Black history is often a hidden subject, that has been written out of mainstream British history.
More accurately, Black History was never written in to British history. For most people, school histories of the UK dealt with the activities of white communities. Filling in these blank pages does a number of things. It helps to illustrate the positive contribution Black people have made to society as a whole. It also helps build confidence in the Black community, and provide positive role models for our Black students.
The Sociological Rewards of Black History Awareness
Black history also combats myths about Black people in the UK. Black History Month is an awareness exercise that helps to counter the arguments of racist groups and work towards equality.
Black History month is a time to reflect on the achievements and remember the good and the great who have challenged the norm and struggled to make the world a better place. If people want an inclusive society, then it requires an inclusive history. Awareness of shared history breaks down barriers and leads to co-operation on all sides and progress for all.
The Founder of Black History Month
Celebrating the achievement and contribution of Black communities in the UK comes from the idea of Dr Carter Godwin Woodson, a Black civil rights activist. He recognised that those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration for change that comes with the teaching of history.
Commemorating Positive Events in Black History
March 25th 2007 marked one of the most momentous dates in global history, the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of slave trade Act. Government Ministers gave their official support to memorial plans. Representatives across cultural, faith and community sectors have committed to marking the occasion with events and activities relevant to all throughout the year.
Literature and Promotion of Black History Month
BHM (The Official Guide to Black History Month) was launched in 1999 with the support of Sir Herman Ouseley, then head of the CRE (Commission for Racial Equality). Then, Black History Month was championed mainly by grass roots community groups. Over the years, the significance of Black History Month has been embraced by an encouraging spectrum of organisations and people from all backgrounds and cultures and the BHM publication has grown from strength to strength.
Sources:
BHM: The official guide to Black History Month online
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