As 2021’s Black History Month comes to a close, it’s important to take its valuable lessons beyond the month itself.
With hundreds of events having taken place across the country this October, this year’s campaign has centred around being ‘proud to be…’
What Black History Month highlights, more than anything else, is that our current understandings of history can often exclude, or completely ignore, the contributions of Black people to significant events and even entire periods of history.
If a more inclusive and accurate understanding of history is to be shaped then it’ll require a continued contribution, beyond simply highlighting individual Black stories.
Here are some helpful resources following up on Black History Month 2021:
WEB
Black History Month 2021 - Proud To Be
Black History Month’s website, with stories, discussion and opinion pieces, and more details on this year’s campaign.
BIG FAT BLACK HISTORY QUIZ 2021 - YouTube
BHM’s Black History Quiz, letting you test your knowledge.
Listings - Black History Month 2021
Events promoted by BHM 2021, including exhibitions, gigs, and art installations right the way through the rest of the year and into 2022.
Writers Make Worlds – Contemporary British writing – writers make worlds
An open educational resource hub for Black and Asian British writing today, serving as a reminder of the fact that British writing has a diverse range of backgrounds.
Black History Month - Teacher Resources - BBC Teach
Educational resources, designed to help teachers tell stories of Black History
Assistant headteacher Josiah Isles writes about his experiences within the education system as a black teacher in the UK.
Garrett Morgan's story - Black History Month 2021 - YouTube
Nottinghamshire Firefighter Joseph Hall shares the story of Garrett Morgan – the Black inventor of the breathing apparatus (BA) set, which is used to save and protect lives every day.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Black History Month 2021 -Proud To Be (@BhmUK) / Twitter
Black History Month’s Twitter account: sharing insightful articles and resources
Black History Month UK (@ibhmuk) • Instagram photos and videos
BHM’s Instagram
Black Lives Matter UK (@blklivesmatter_uk) • Instagram photos and videos
Black Lives Matter’s Instagram account, sharing updates of the movement’s activities within the UK
Models of Diversity (@modelsofdiversity) • Instagram photos and videos
Instagram account campaigning for representation in the media, beauty and fashion industries, as well as sharing stories of Black trailblazers from the past.
TV
Yorkshire Cop: Police, Racism and Me - All 4 (channel4.com)
Bill Thomas, the first Black male police officer in South Yorkshire, revisits 40 years of public service: the battles, the racism, and the friendships of a remarkable career
BBC iPlayer - Black Is the New Black
Exceptional figures from politics, business, sport, science and more share their insights into being black and British today, how they got where they are, and thoughts on what the future holds.
Sorry, I Didn't Know - Series 2 - Episode 1 - ITV Hub
Featuring comedians and other guests, Jimmy Akingbola hosts a panel show which takes a tour of black history across the globe.
