Black History Month
October is Black History Month. It is a reflection of the positive contribution Black peoples have made in the development of Britain.
For countless generations people of African and Caribbean descent have been shaping our nation’s story, making a huge difference to our national and cultural life and helping to make Britain a better place to be.
That contribution is overwhelmingly apparent today in the energy, talent and dedication of business leaders, lawyers, academics, musicians, artists and many more.
During Black History Month, we tell the stories of those less well-known individuals who we will forget if we don’t showcase them. Where people have been excluded, it is right that we highlight them so their valuable contributions to that evolution are not forgotten.
The history of migration into Britain is like a tapestry that tells a rich and exciting story, with interwoven threads of bright, contrasting, sometimes clashing colours.
This story is not without hardship. There have often been difficult journeys to get here, leaving family and friends behind. Some of those who have settled come as refugees, driven from their homes by natural disasters, persecution or war. From time to time they may have encountered prejudice and discrimination but have gone on to settle and establish communities.
Celebrating Black Britons is integral to this. People like Martin Griffiths Lead trauma surgeon, at the Royal London; or. Walter Tull who fought for Britain and died in WW1.
Olive Morris the Community leader and activist, who would live for just 27 years but would achieve more in her short life than many do in an entire lifetime.
The civil rights activist Roy Hackett, who was one of the lead organisers of the Bristol bus boycott, has died at the age of 93 this Year 2022.
Evelyn Dove, After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music was the first Black singer on BBC radio, she broke cultural barriers and opened doors for her successors in the entertainment industry.
There are so many more, from all walks of life.
These achievements aren’t only of interest or relevance to black people. They belong to us all, whatever our skin colour. We’re all standing on their shoulders in some way, as we aspire to evolve further to fulfil our potential – individually, and as a nation.
In any diverse society, there are always difficult moments that need to be borne and reconciled with.
But when division threatens unity and progress, it’s vital that we work with each other to bring people back together.
You will see the posters above and around the school where we highlight and celebrate the lives of some of the most important Black Britons who broke race barriers, made history, and left an indelible mark on the history of this country.
