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The month of October has been observed in the UK as Black History Month since 1987, according to History.com. As a non-black person of color myself, I believe that I am very blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to learn about the history of the black community. I wanted to share some of the knowledge regarding Black History Month that I have gained through school, informative social media handles, and discussions with friends and family. Because I am not black myself, I am of course open to criticism and corrections regarding my article on this important topic.

Why was Black History Month created?

According to ITV, a major British news outlet, Black History Month was created to counter the ‘perceived invisibility’ of the black community. Black writers, teachers, scientists and actors etc. were and still sometimes are often ignored and discriminated against because of their race. Black history month is the celebration of the achievements of the black people who have been ignored and hated to no fault of their own, as well as honoring the lives lost due to anti-black hate crimes and racist attacks. Throughout history, the black community has undoubtedly suffered large amounts of hatred and injustice, which includes slavery and the apartheid.

Why do we still need it?

Racial slurs are still being used against black people, violent hate crimes are still happening and the work of black people is still being undervalued. Essentially, Black History Month is vital in order to commemorate the struggles and achievements of the black community in the past as well as fighting against anti-blackness and racial discrimination in today’s society. Black history should never be forgotten, and we should all always be actively working towards a world in which no one is misjudged, hurt, or hated for being black.

How can we help the cause? 

After learning about the creation of and the need for Black History Month, I too, wondered how I could help this extremely noble cause. You could help by looking for information online about various aspects of black history so that you stay educated on the problems the black community faces and avoid being unintentionally offensive or insensitive in terms of the former. You could also spread this information through sharing and sending posts, so that others around you will be able to educate themselves too. Donations to charities that aid and uplift the black community are always helpful, but there are still plenty of ways to help if you are currently unable to donate. Whenever you see a petition in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement, for example, one attempting to punish the perpetrators of a racist hate crime, be sure to sign it and share the link. Whenever you have the mental energy and are safe doing so, open discussions with friends and family about challenging racist attitudes within society are also so helpful.

Lesser-known black historical figures

As stated above, educating yourself can be a huge help to the cause of gaining equal rights and increasing opportunities for black people. So, I wanted to leave some information about 5 lesser known black historical figures below.

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was the daughter of an enslaved woman, and she was the first African-American woman to enlist in and serve in the U.S. Army. She went on to become America’s first African-American female Buffalo soldier, because she posed as a man named William Cathy to improve her prospects in life. Williams was and always will be an unforgettable icon due to her bravery and success despite the discrimination she faced.

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was a black, transgender woman who was one of the first drag queens to walk into the Stonewall Inn (where the original riot that started the Pride movement took place). She made history and is a hero for LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Johnson was also a kind, charitable person all throughout her life, working with organizations that helped people who were often held back in society, such as homeless people and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Oscar Micheaux

Oscar Micheaux was the first African-American to produce a full-length film and had a thirty-year long career in producing, writing, and directing films. Many consider him a hero and a wonderful example to young, black people aspiring to have a career in the film industry. He later started his own motion-picture company and many say that he was not only an extremely talented and prolific icon, but was also extremely independent and ‘self-made’ in his work.

Mary Seacole

Seacole moved to the U.K. in 1854, and after having many opportunities taken away from her in the nursing profession due to racial discrminiation, she set up her own ‘hotel.’ This ‘hotel’ was a safe environment in which she nursed wounded soldiers who fought in the Crimean War. She was an excellent example to all nurses and healthcare workers, and became an iconic figure to the black community. Racism and anti-blackness was unfortunately a huge reason as to why Seacole did not get much recognition for her contributions throughout the war, so a campaign was launched in 1991 for her efforts to be valued and recognized as an important part of history.

Claudia Jones

Jones was the founder of the famous Notting Hill Carnival celebration, and also launched an anti-racist newspaper that campaigned for social justice and equality named the West Indian Gazette. This newspaper also celebrated West Indian culture and black culture as a whole. Jones was a huge inspiration to aspiring writers who were black, as racial injustice led black people to believe they could not successfully express themselves through writing due to their race.

Did you learn anything from this article? What do you have to say about Black History Month?

Take care,

 Jaya x