ctober marks Black History Month, the annual commemoration of the historical past, achievements and contributions of Black individuals within the UK.
For the entire month of October, occasions celebrating African and Caribbean cultures and histories will happen across the UK.
Black Historical past Month occasions embody:
Whereas the UK celebrates Black Historical past Month in October, within the US the place commemorations originated, it takes place all through February.
So why do the US and the UK differ, and why is having a Black Historical past Month within the UK so vital?
Right here is every thing it’s good to learn about Black Historical past Month.
Who began Black Historical past Month?
Within the US, Black Historical past Month was created by historian Carter G Woodson (1875-1950). He needed to problem preconceptions on the time that “the negro has no historical past” and based the Affiliation for the Research of Negro Life and Historical past in 1915, which inspired students and historians to analysis and protect black historical past and tradition.
In February 1926, Woodson based Negro Historical past Week.
It was later determined {that a} week wasn’t lengthy sufficient and, towards the backdrop of the civil rights motion and the Black Energy motion, Black Historical past Month was born in 1969.
After visiting America within the Nineteen Seventies, Ghanaian-born Akyaaba Addai Sebo, a particular tasks officer on the Higher London Council, based the UK’s model of Black Historical past Month in 1987.
Why is Black Historical past Month celebrated in October within the UK and February within the US?
The US celebrates in February as a result of the birthdays of former president Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass fall throughout that month.
There are two causes considered behind why Black Historical past Month is well known in October within the UK.
Historically, October is when African chiefs and leaders collect to settle their variations, so Akyaaba selected this month to reconnect with black individuals’s roots within the continent.
Moreover, many thought that because it was the start of the brand new tutorial yr, October would give black kids a way of pleasure and id.
Why is Black Historical past Month vital?
Black Historical past Month means various things to everybody and pleasure on this month is expressed in quite a lot of other ways.
For a lot of, Black Historical past Month is a method of reflecting on the various histories of these of African and Caribbean descent, being attentive to the achievements and contributions to the social, political, financial and cultural improvement of the UK.
Black Historical past Month isn’t with out its opponents. Some individuals argue that it’s arduous to show Black historical past in a single month and advocate making an attempt to combine it extra deeply into the curriculum.
Inspirational black British girls all through historical past
Actor Morgan Freeman has criticised Black Historical past Month on quite a few events, calling it “ridiculous”.
“I do not desire a Black Historical past Month,” he mentioned, “Black historical past is American historical past.”
How is Black Historical past Month celebrated within the UK?
There will be celebrations and events taking up and down the country, together with in London.
Throughout the capital, you will discover every thing from meals festivals to music workshops to instructional seminars and lectures.
