Black History Month: Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

By Mr Lees 

Every October, schools, communities and organisations across the UK come together to mark Black History Month. This is a time dedicated to recognising and celebrating the achievements, culture and contributions of Black people throughout history and today. 

While the month is filled with music, art, and stories of pride and resilience, its roots are deeply connected to education and awareness. Black History Month was first celebrated in the UK in 1987, thanks to the work of Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian-born activist who wanted to highlight the positive role of Black people in British society, something often overlooked in history lessons. 

It’s easy to think of Black History Month as a list of famous names - Mary Seacole, the Jamaican nurse who cared for soldiers during the Crimean War; Olaudah Equiano, whose autobiography helped expose the horrors of the slave trade (Year 9 and older students will remember the Freedom module they studied in Year 8); or Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who turned tragedy into a lifelong campaign for justice and equality. But the month is also about the thousands of everyday individuals who shaped Britain’s history through courage, creativity, and community. 

The Windrush Generation, for example, helped rebuild the nation after World War II, facing discrimination but contributing enormously to modern British life (from healthcare and transport to culture and sport). More recent movements, like Black Lives Matter, remind us that the fight for equality is ongoing, not just a chapter in a textbook. 

Black History Month is not just about the past; it’s about the future. It encourages us all - students, teachers, and members of society - to learn, reflect and take pride in the diverse community we live in. It’s an opportunity to question whose stories are told, whose voices are heard. Furthermore, how we can build a fairer and more inclusive world for everyone. 

As writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said: “The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.” This October, let’s celebrate Black history not as a separate story, but as an essential part of our shared one: the story of Britain itself. 

 Charlotte Pedroz 13N 

For the Sixth form groups, Miss O’Connor gave an excellent, eye-opening presentation about the importance of Black History Month in the wider-world as we approach the imminent encounter to the adult-world outside of school where problems concerning

racial and gender discrimination are prominent and everyday life. She shared us with real life examples of leading influential figures of African/Caribbean backgrounds in different sectors of society such as education, Science and how they are presented or underrepresented in media. She posed deep thought-provoking questions and statements to us that I think we all stopped in that moment to consider for a while. Thank you, Miss, for your amazing presentation!