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Color Outside the Lines celebrates British Black History Month

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Hi everyone 👋🏽.

So I didn’t realise it last week (as I talked about Hispanic Heritage Month), that it was Black History month over here in the UK 🤦🏾‍♀️😅🙃.

Makes sense given how little is taught in British schools 😒 & evident in the treatment during the Windrush* scandal.

The header image is courtesy of the Black History Month Monday 13th October event: Migration Stories: Windrush and the NHS run by Culture Mile BID.

Black History Month | Migration Stories: Windrush and the NHS

The first Black History Month in the UK took place in 1987, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean.It was arranged by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana as a refugee in 1984, external. Like Carter G Woodson (the father of Black history week/month in America?) before him, he wanted to challenge racism and celebrate the history of black people. October was chosen partly because it’s traditionally a time when African leaders gather to talk about important issues, and partly because it was at the start of the school year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-54522248

Akyaaba Addai-Sebo

I wanna put more effort into this topic & will try to check out some art, exhibitions & books in the next few weeks 🤞🏽.

The Tate musuem also has an exhibition I wanna checkout. As well as the Somerset house.

Prompt: any famous Black British citizens of note you’d like to talk about?

Feel free to talk about anything you’d like to as well. Hope you’re all doing well 🙏🏽.