Black
History month 2022
Theme: Time for Change: Action Not Words
A brief history of BHM in UK
October is a period of recognition, reconciliation,
renewal and a review of the state of Black Britain. 1987 was the 150th anniversary of Caribbean emancipation, the centenary of
the birth of Marcus Garvey and the 25th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity, an
institution dedicated to advancing the progress of African states.1
Black British History month was first celebrated in London in 1987, as
part of African Jubilee Year. 34 years later and Black History Month is more
relevant now than ever. The global responses to the murder of George Floyd, the
national outcry with Wendy Williams report on the Windrush Scandal and the
controversial Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report all share a
common theme in their demand for greater knowledge of African Caribbean’s
contribution to British society as a way forward in dismantling racism in
society.2
Akyaaba Addai-Sebo is responsible for putting forward the concept of a
Black History Month in Britain, into what we recognise today, and is celebrated
throughout the country.3
After visiting the US in the 1970s, Akyaaba Addai-Sebo in 1987 initiated
Black History Month in the UK, as part of the African Jubilee year. He moved to
the UK to seek refuge from political persecution in Ghana in 1984, working to
promote diversity in a variety of roles for organizations including the Greater
London Council, African Refugees Housing Action Group, Notting Hill Carnival,
and Organization of African Unity.4
The African Jubilee Year declaration gave birth to Black
History Month. October was chosen because it was shortly after the UK summer
vacation and was the traditional harvest period and time when African leaders
gathered to settle differences and appraise the state of the community. The
month is now dedicated in the UK to the celebration of the African Story in the
creation of our one humanity. 5
However,
BHM has its downside as the focus tends to be on movements and figures in the
U.S. Whilst, it is necessary and important to teach children about the staples
such as, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Nelson Mandela, there needs to be
a balance.
Concentrating
on American figures rather than British means people are not being taught about
the significance of Britons like John Kent, Britain’s first Black policeman,
Asquith Xavier, who fought against the colour bar to become the first non-white
guard at Euston station, Mary Prince, who became the first Black woman to
publish an autobiography in England, and others who have shaped the fabric of
our nation. 6
Why
do we need it?
Because there are always 2 sides to a story and it happens
that we only know one. Hidden facts lead to distorted truth…
We are mis-educated, misinformed and need more grounding as a community.
BHM is an initiative which aspires to bridge that gap by encouraging
self-education and offering many cultural, communal activities to learn about OUR history ourselves. To deny a person’s
history is to deny their humanity and to enslave them.
The
truth is much Black History taught within schools just isn’t. Slavery,
apartheid, the civil rights movement – none of these could have existed if it
was only black people in this narrative. Framing this as Black History takes
out one of history’s most important elements. It’s not about blame or shame; simply
the truth. White people were there too.
If we do talk on slavery in schools our
focus is likely to be on the corporations and institutions that were forged in
its fire, borne to success on black bodies. We might talk to you about streets
and buildings in your town named after slave traders. We might talk about who
these slave traders were.
But the truth is we often start elsewhere in
some of the more hidden stories of our History. We like to share our pre-colonial
history, the history of Blackness in Britain and the history of our rebellion,
we feel these areas of our rich and diverse history are far closer to ‘Black
History’ than anything else. 7
We share common roots in the dark, tropical wombs of
our mothers and our strength lies in the variety within our oneness.
1. Black History Month UK: Black children must be able to
believe in themselves | CNN
2. SACCO's Proud to Be Launch of Black History Month |
Sutton African and Caribbean Cultural Organisation
3. The Origins of Black History - An Interview with
Akyaaba Addai-Sebo - Black History Month 2022
4. After fleeing political persecution in Ghana, this man
founded Black History Month in the UK - Face2Face Africa
5. Black children must be able to believe in themselves. That's what
Black History Month is for - MyJoyOnline.com
6. Black History Month 2022: Here’s what’s missing, and
why | openDemocracy
7. How Black will your BHM be this year? - African
Activities for Schools workshops, Events and Team Building
