UK Black History Month | London, England
While Blacks in the U.S. may lament the celebration of Black History Month in February — the shortest month of the calendar year— Black Brits have the luxury of celebrating the contributions of their ancestors in one of the longest months — October.
Black History in England was first celebrated in 1987. The month of October was selected because it coincided with the Marcus Garvey celebrations and London Jubilee. Since that time, celebration has spread out from the London Boroughs to other English cities like Bristol, Leeds, Manchester Nottingham and Birmingham, as well as other parts of the United Kingdom.
Photo: Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 – 1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was one of the most prominent people of African heritage involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade. He wrote an autobiography that depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade in 1807.
For more information on the “other” Black History Month check out the following sites:
- BHM, The Official Guide to Black History
- Breaking the Chains, Commemorating 200 Years Since the Abolition of Slavery
- Liverpool International Slavery Museum
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