Today (01/10/2023) marks the first day of Black History Month in the UK. October is used for celebrating black history and the contributions that black people have made to the development of our society. This celebration originated in the US, where it commences in February. Introduced in London in 1987, it has been celebrated annually since. Originally, it aimed to educate communities in London on black history and experiences of racism. It has since expanded to focus on educating the whole of the UK. Whilst recognition and knowledge of black history has come a long way since 1987, the month of October allows us to develop our understandings of black history.
From the Roman Empire to the present day, black people have made huge, and often underappreciated, contributions to British history. This month gives us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate these. It also prompts us to question mainstream histories which ignored the influence of black people.
There is still a lot of work to be done to achieve racial equality in the UK. Historians must aim to represent the contributions and experiences of all ethnicities. Although October is set aside for Black History Month, we must continue to educate ourselves on black identities and experiences if we are to challenge racial prejudice. We must also recognise the UK’s problematic, colonial history and the damage it has caused to so many groups, not least ethnic minorities.