Why Black History Month Matters in the UK

Every October in the UK, Black History Month offers more than a commemorative pause, it is a vital moment of intentional education, challenge and remembrance. In a national curriculum and collective consciousness that has long foregrounded white British, European, or imperial narratives, Black History Month asks us to re-centre stories of African, Caribbean and diasporic communities as integral to Britain’s past, present and future. The month is not about confining Black history to one time slot, but rather opening a space to confront gaps, question silences, and broaden understanding. 

Black History Month in the UK was first celebrated in October 1987, through the efforts of Ghanaian analyst and activist Akyaaba Addai-Sebo in collaboration with the Greater London Council and others, marking 150 years since Caribbean emancipation and seeking to foreground Black British identity and contributions.  The choice of October was partly pragmatic (a school term month after summer) and partly symbolic, tied into pan-African rhythms of remembrance and identity. 

Over time, Black History Month has become a cultural and civic fixture across Britain: schools, local authorities, museums, media, community organisations and towns use it to host exhibitions, lectures, performances, public art and dialogue. But its significance lies deeper: it is a moment to unsettle dominant narratives, to reconnect identities, and to encourage ongoing curiosity, inclusion and justice.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿

Key Figures and Turning Points in UK Black History

Any teaching or praise of Black British history must go beyond a handful of names, but here are a few essential profiles and historical moments that illustrate the richness and struggle of Black lives in the UK:

Olaudah Equiano (c.1745–1797)

Born in what is now Nigeria and sold into slavery as a child, Equiano eventually purchased his freedom. Settling in London, he published The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789), which became one of the most influential slave narratives of its time. His writing propelled abolitionist sentiment in Britain and gave voice to lived experiences rarely heard in Parliament or in classrooms. 

Len Garrison (1943–2003)

A seminal figure in the development of Black educational and archival activism, Len Garrison co-founded ACER (Afro-Caribbean Education Resource) and was instrumental in establishing the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton the UK’s first national centre dedicated to Black British life. His work insisted that Black histories belong to public memory and education, not just marginalised communities. 

Mary Seacole (1805–1881)

Of Jamaican and Scottish descent, Mary Seacole travelled to the Crimean War and founded the “British Hotel” near the front lines, offering medical care, shelter, food and compassion to wounded soldiers. Her resourcefulness, cross-cultural medical practices and determination have made her a powerful symbol of care, resilience and agency beyond the confines of formal institutions. 

Claudia Jones (1915–1964)

An influential journalist, political activist and thinker, Claudia Jones emigrated from Trinidad to the UK, where she fought for racial justice, women’s rights, and cultural recognition. She is credited with co-founding the precursor events that evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival, as a way of celebrating Caribbean culture and strengthening community resilience. 

Important Dates & Moments

  • 1833: The Slavery Abolition Act in the British colonies, followed by compensation to slave owners (not formerly enslaved people).

  • 1948: Arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury, carrying Caribbean migrants who would become the Windrush Generation. A foundational chapter in modern Black British life.

  • 1987: First UK Black History Month launch, marking emancipation anniversaries and the rising visibility of Black British identity. 

  • 2007: The centenary of the 1904–1905 transit of Black people into empire contexts, and the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act (1807) received renewed public attention and some curricular inclusion of figures like Equiano began. 

These names and events are not tokenism. They are emblematic of the broader currents of resistance, migration, contribution and cultural exchange that constitute British history and too often, parts of that history are obscured, skipped or simplified in school lessons.

Why Black History Month Is Important Beyond the Classroom

Black History Month is not only about filling gaps in school syllabuses. Its broader significance lies in cultural, social and democratic life: it is a reminder that histories shape identities, and identities shape power.

When Black stories are excluded, it communicates to entire communities especially young Black people that their ancestors, contributions and lived realities are less worthy of remembrance. That has psychological, civic and cultural consequences. When the architecture of public memory (statues, curricula, media, museums) privileges some stories over others, it influences who is seen as legitimate, who is considered “Briton,” and who belongs.

Moreover, Black History Month invites reflection on structural inequality, racism and justice not as distant historical matters, but as ongoing dimensions of society. It gives space to name the past honestly, to acknowledge complicity and harm, and to imagine futures where narratives are plural and accountable. Institutional commitments (in government, schools, cultural bodies) during Black History Month can catalyse changes that ripple throughout the year policy statements, curriculum reviews, exhibition loans, inauguration of new memorials or blue plaques, community engagements.

Because Black History Month is a visible moment, it forces public institutions, local government, media and organisations to step into the conversation. It is a time when stories previously sidelined are given stage, when exhibitions are commissioned, when schools host events, when coverage in national newspapers, radio and TV increases. All of this raises awareness, shapes public imagination, influences who gets funded, and changes whose voices are heard.

Yet many fear it risks tokenism: if the month is treated as a safe, symbolic window rather than a prompt to systemic change, its potential is dulled. That is why embedding Black history permanently, not just in October is essential.

The Black Curriculum & the Case for Embedding Black British History in Every School

This is precisely where The Black Curriculum’s mission becomes indispensable. It is not enough to celebrate Black history for one month; the work must be structural, persistent and normalized.

Embedding Black British history year-round is not just about fairness or representation. It is about strengthening historical literacy, critical thinking, social cohesion and identity. Understanding how migration, empire, resistance, systemic racism and cultural hybridity shaped Britain equips young people of all backgrounds with a fuller frame to grapple with the present.

When Black history is integrated across subjects (history, literature, geography, art, citizenship), it breaks down artificial siloes and enables students to see connections: e.g. how industrialization and migration intertwine, how cultural exchange shaped music and language, how anti-colonial struggles influenced geopolitics, how postwar migration transformed urban life.

Moreover, the presence of a curriculum that honours and interrogates Black British lives challenges institutional amnesia. It invites not just teachers and students but governors, local authorities, exam boards and cultural institutions to ask: which stories are privileged, which are omitted, whose voices are considered canonical?

Finally, the Black Curriculum’s model with evaluation, partnership, scaffolding, and school support demonstrates that this is not a utopian dream but a workable shift. Schools participating in their programmes report increased teacher confidence, evolving lesson plans and more inclusive narratives. 

In summary: Black History Month gives us a moment to convene and reflect but the work must stretch far beyond October. Every child in the UK deserves to learn about the Black British lives, struggles, achievements and legacies that shape this nation. The Black Curriculum is not simply an educational supplement it is a corrective, a foundational reimagining of how history is told and who is centred.