Black History Month 2024
Black history month, a time for “every child growing up in the UK [to have] an appreciation and an understanding of Africa, Africans, and people of African descent” were the words Dr Akyaaba Addai-Sebo’s foundations of what Black history month is today. Just under 30 years ago, Mr Addai-Sebo - a Ghanaian Analyst, a human rights activist and a journalist - played a pivotal role introducing Black history month in the UK. Dr Akyaaba was determined that Black history month in the UK, should be a time to celebrate monumental achievements that have shaped the Black community and the world.
This year’s theme of Black history month 2024 is “reclaiming the narrative”, focusing on notable achievements of the Black community, not just limited to the last 500 years of history. To commemorate this in Kendrick, the African and Caribbean Society compiled a collection of 18 Black women to showcase the diversity in their achievements: ranging from musicians, to athletes and scientists. One of these women includes Kendrick alumni, Chinyere Adah Nwanoku OBE, a renowned musician and currently a professor at the Royal College of Music. Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock a space scientist and mechanical engineer, advocates for women in STEM and Dr Varaidzo Kativu, an educational activist and was previously a young leader at the United Office (2022). Dr Varazio has used her platform to ensure the right of education is available to all children. All these women challenged the environments that they were in to achieve their passions, fuelled by their determination to shine in their fields; fulfilling the Kendrick values of leading, inspiring and making a difference.
As a school community, recognising the achievements of black culture when “reclaiming the narrative”, is just as important as remembering the negative aspects of black history. However, our focus this month is on the positive aspects of black culture, especially in the UK. There are a number of notable historical events that shine an optimistic light on black history. From the more recent “Black Lives Matter” movement and “No room for racism” movement in football to the first ever bill passed to protect against discrimination in the UK - ‘The Race Relations Act’ passed in 1965. These moments of unity showcase how society's values have evolved, allowing different cultures to be unified.
The rich multiculturalism in the UK that allows black people to express themselves in all manners of ways, helps us to claim our heritage in a way that still allows us to integrate within society. One example in which we can convey this is through our hairstyles. Black hairstyles range from box braids to cornrows to twists to many others, some of which are not exclusive to black culture. However, by far the most notable are braids. Traditionally, braids were a form of self-expression coming with different patterns, designs and styles which distinguished tribes and regions. Importantly, hair braiding or specifically cornrows (a type of braid) were used during the slave trade as a form of resistance, communicating messages of freedom and escape. Similarly, in modern day, our hair still gives us a sense of identity and cultural freedom but also more emphasis is put on the idea of protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles is an umbrella term, for example: braids, cornrows, twists and locks which protect the hair from environmental elements. All cultures have protective hairstyles, but this is especially key in black hair due to the curliness of most black hair types, making them significantly more prone to breakage. While it may look like braids are a fashion, which they can be, they actually have deep historical significance and have a purpose in protecting afro-like hair types from damage.
Black British culture is continuously evolving, reflecting the rich blend of both African and Caribbean heritage. It is seen in food, music, literature, fashion, and the language, all coming together to create a unique cultural identity. Music is a key element that defines British black culture. Individuals from this community have been pioneers in the creation of genres like Grime, which emerged in the early 2000s, and was popularised by artists like Wiley, Kano and Skepta. Grime not only showcased the talents of black British artists but also provided a platform to highlight challenges, including racism, that they face in their everyday life.
The music created by black Britons continues to shape the self-identity of African-Caribbeans in the UK today. Being black and British is also characterised by a celebration of the heritage of your own and of others in the community. A well-known example of this is the Notting Hill Carnival, which first took place on the 30th of January 1959, as a response to the Notting Hill Race Riots. Today, the carnival is widely recognised by black-British individuals, as a celebration of the rich and diverse Caribbean culture and is a symbol of the ongoing fight for equality. It has become an integral part of British black culture. Being black-British is also characterised by standing up against the inequalities faced by our community, both nationally and internationally. The Black Lives Matter protests serve as a prime example of this, sparked by the death of George Floyd in America, which ignited discussions about police brutality in the UK. In a time of sorrow, large protests were held across the country in solidarity with those in the United States. On the 6th of June, around 20,000 people attended a peaceful protest in London, and 15,000 participated in Manchester. While the protests were a heart-wrenching response to injustice, they were representative of the essence of Black British culture: community. People came together to fight against the systemic injustices and racism.
Black British culture is a celebration - a celebration of the beautiful, diverse cultures it encompasses of all ages who contribute to our identity. Their achievements and ongoing contributions define what it means to be black-British. Hence, when revisiting the theme of Black history month ‘reclaiming the narrative’, focusing on bringing to light the success of black individuals and their impact on the community is essential. Through this we hope that students and teachers at Kendrick from all backgrounds can have a greater understanding of Black British culture, celebrating diversity within a multicultural school.
To conclude, here is a quotation from Dr Akyaaba Addai- Sebo: “Black History Season [is a time of] celebration of the magnificence of cultural diversity and the enriching value of peaceful co-existence.”
By Vimbai, Cerys and Jennifer