Black History Month

[PonDeReplay]

October is Black History Month in the UK. Happy BHM to all! It feels like it’s really needed this year. Please share your thoughts about it, as well as good (or bad!) examples of BHM in this thread.

This is great. I don't know any of this Yivamoon.

@echo another joke yo the list. Pure gym ran that ad last year too.

Omg at the mayor of Manchester post 😂

@EchoCardioGran

I'm feeling a little sheepish. I saw the thread title in Active Threads and so launched in and posted my comment, but only afterwards saw that this is meant to be a section for Black Mumsnetters. I am not a Black Mumsnetter. But I am interested in BHM. I will briefly report my thoughts on the GY interview and then happy to be told to shut up.

I found it completely inspiring. He spoke about BLM and the importance of "excavating" (his word) the untold stories of black history. He spoke about the influence of African-American women writers (he mentioned Alice Walker and Maya Angelou) in shaping his thinking.

Although he focused on the very real and persistent problem of systemic racism, he made me feel a bit hopeful. He talked about the importance of keeping difficult conversations going even with people you really don't agree with. What an amazingly articulate and inspiring man.

@Ylvamoon It was a great programme and I then listened to the whole George Walker's Lyric for strings. Beautiful piece, very moving

@MotherofPearl
Thanks for coming back, good to hear your views! I've always thought well of GY so I'm really pleased it went so well. I wish I could have heard him speak.

A bit of inspiration is what we all need, after recent events on here to get this little board up. It's important that you were involved in the interview and took something from it. It gives me heart that you came to tell us too, thanks, so please don't feel unwelcome.

Alice Walker hey? Well that's interesting, one amazing woman and great writer too. I might dig out The Color Purple again.

It's the untold stories I'm really interested in too, little nuggets that surface. Great that GY did everyone proud!

Spotted this article by Benjamin Zephaniah, ‘Black people will not be respected until our history is respected’. I think that’s why I feel black history month is so important.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/12/black-people-history-respected-teachers-police-benjamin-zephaniah

@MotherofPearl - welcome!

Thanks all for the warm welcome. I am happy to read and learn.

I think the Zephaniah article is interesting. European imperialism and colonialism (I'm thinking of the 19th century in particular) didn't just 'not value' black people's history, but simply dismissed the notion that Africa or Africans had a history at all. That's why I agree that there is still a lot of work to be done to educate people and overcome this long-lasting, pervasive, persistent attitude.

theblackfarmer.com/black-history-month/

Selling Jerk Chicken Sausages in Lidl and fundraising for Mary Seacole Trust in Black History Month

@Farle29

theblackfarmer.com/black-history-month/

Selling Jerk Chicken Sausages in Lidl and fundraising for Mary Seacole Trust in Black History Month

I need to look for those sausages!

Lovely to hear about the GOSH BAME Forum. The sentiments that the staff expressed about the purpose it served are likely to be the same used by those, especially PatricksRum, to get this forum set up on MN.

BameChange123
It's now 2026
But I'd honestly say that the Guardian newspaper still tries and seems aware about the black diaspora world-wise and UK in its reportage
Am giving them truly earned credit for that

This was not done this Black history month, but from to time I like to ook on the Black autography exhibition called Autograph in a box. I saw this live and it featured early black and Asian people coming to the UK. If you scroll down this page you can see some of the pictures and also clicking some of the links available.
https://autograph.org.uk/events/exhibition-in-a-box-black-chronicles-woolwich