It’s been 3 years since I last did a UK Black History Month post.
In 2021, I quoted myself from 2020 and I’m going to continue that tradition:
It’s been tough finding decent BHM content because so much of it is whitewashed or performative. People are retreading the same steps and the same “look at these famous slaves!” lists of influential Black people, often written by white people. Or pledges for more action that were made last year and the year before. I’m also not pleased about a few articles regarding more Black presence in the police force which is the most counterintuitive suggestion to make in any month, let alone Black History Month.
In the same month as Chris Kaba’s killer was acquitted of his murder, I want to focus as much on Black joy as any of the more painful memories and stories that make us who we are as Black British people. So here’s my roundup for this year’s Black History Month.
From the Internet
- Black History Month at Brentford (Brentford FC)
- Black History Month 2024: Reclaiming Narratives and HIV (Terrence Higgins Trust)
- Black History Month: Reclaiming narratives for black mental health (Mental Health Foundation)
- Black History Month: your guide to the best cultural events in London (Evening Standard)
- Racism won’t be solved by a well-meaning Black History Month blog post (Susan A for Metro)
- Stunt Watch: Black History Month 2024 brings hits, Heinz and misses (PR Moment; just on this one – the ad with the big ketchup mouthed grin on the Black person’s face was almost certainly unintentional but the fact that this was okayed and nobody thought twice about the imagery speaks volumes to who was in the room and how intent outweighs impact for people who aren’t affected)
From the Cultrface archives
- A list of Black movies to watch during Halloween season
- Shout out to Chris Day, Britain’s only Black glassblower
- Yaya Azariah Clarke on ‘the state of the creative industry from a Black perspective’
- A slideshow of Black British style and joy in the 2000s
- Jeanelle Kevina Hope’s ‘Ode to Black British Girls’