This takes place every October.
Don writes:
Welcome to this year's Black History Month:
This October I would like to highlight an exciting range of publications and websites that will hopefully inform and inspire a wide range of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and with this in mind I have collated and summarised the following subjects from a number of Black History Month websites.
As you can imagine there are so many stories of men and women who have made their mark and a positive contribution to black history so for me this year's focus is on British Diversity, the Black Victorians, Black soldiers of the First World War and of course treasured visual and audio archives of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr:
I would like to draw your attention to a fascinating and inspiring audio archive of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. giving the "I Have a Dream" speech during the Civil Rights rally on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963 – available from - archive.org/details/MLKDream
Additionally Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech is known around the world, but few people are aware of another remarkable powerful video recorded speech he gave in north-east England in 1967 while accepting an honorary doctorate from Newcastle University - available from - www.ncl.ac.uk/congregations/ceremonies/honorary/martinlutherking.php
Tragically, barely five months later, the University found itself organising a memorial service following Dr King's assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968.
The Black Victorians:
The history of black people in Britain certainly goes back a long way - well before the reign of Queen Victoria. There were Black people in Britain in Roman times, and there has been a continuous Black presence here since 1555. For Shakespeare's London audiences, Black faces would have been a familiar sight.
How Black Soldiers Helped Britain in the First World War:
Walter Tull has become the most celebrated black British soldier of the First World War. He enlisted in December 1914, suffered shell shock, returned to action in the battle of the Somme and was decorated with the 1914-15 star and other British war and victory medals.
Commissioned as an officer in 1917, Tull was mentioned in dispatches for his 'gallantry and coolness' at the battle of Piave in Italy in January 1918, but two months later he was killed in No Man's Land during the second battle of the Somme.
Walter Tull, the first black officer in the British army, to feature on £5 coin. The coin, featuring a portrait of the officer with a backdrop of infantry soldiers going "over the top", will be one of a set of six £5 coins to remember the sacrifice made by so many during the war.
Diversity within Black History Month:
Today progressive employers hopefully recognise that being forward-thinking on equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace makes sense. They recognise that employees from different backgrounds bring unique knowledge, skills and experience to their businesses.
Presently organisations such as Bedfordshire Police, Law Firm Wragge & Co, University of Reading, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary are actively seeking to recruit black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, students, graduates & young people from minority groups; regardless of race, gender, ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation.
Black History Month – Recommended Reading Booklist:
History has proven to be an important part of forming ones Identity and development. Having access to history allows us to see who we have been and who we can become so I have generated a small list of other books you may wish to read during black history month include:
Donna writes:
Celebrating Black History Month
Black History Month has been celebrated widely for many years throughout October to honour the achievements, culture, and the history of Black people. You can download the UNISON Black History Month poster and guide at www.unison.org.uk/catalogue/22614 and www.unison.org.uk/catalogue/22615
UNISON is proud to support Black History Month. But our commitment to inclusion and equality lasts a lot longer than four weeks. Our branches and regions have self-organised black members groups, and the latest edition of our "Black Action" newsletter is at www.unison.org.uk/catalogue/22612
E-petition for Black history to be taught in schools
UNISON is supporting the campaign to get 100,000 signatures for the e-petition to make Black History part of the school curriculum for Primary education. It helps to enrich the development of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural needs of all ethnic groups. We believe that Black History should be made a mandatory element of the national curriculum. Why don't you support the petition as well, and circulate it round your colleagues? Just go to epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60635
If you need any further advice or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Khadiee Campbell or Bukky Akinwale by email at blackmembers@unison.co.uk