Ajoa Akuamoah: What Black History Month means to me

Every year, Black History Month allows me and many others to re-examine their position as black people living in the UK. With many of us being the children of either first or second-generation African or Caribbean immigrants, Black History Month in the UK should also represent an opportunity to explore the historical experiences of Black Britons - but it shouldn’t be the only opportunity.

As someone who attended a school where I was one of only eight black girls in my year, you can imagine my excitement each October when Black History Month rolled around. It represented an opportunity for Black history, Black talent and Black excellence to be proudly showcased. However, as I grew and began to reflect on my engagement with Black History Month, I started to question how much of it was centred on Black British history.

Being a Black Briton during Black History Month, we are frequently shown imagery of African-American civil rights activists. The narratives that emerge from their experiences are taught in a way that presumes an almost homogenous history of black people in the diaspora. This is not to diminish the importance of learning about the likes of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X; however, we must also learn about our own great Black Britons, such as Olive Morris, Len Garrison and Lord Boateng.

In a country where we are often ‘othered' and sometimes made to feel as if we do not belong, Black History Month serves as a reminder to me of the many contributions black people have made to this country over hundreds of years.

In fact, the events of 2020 highlighted the need for Black History Month now more than ever, with the Black Lives Matter movement forcing the world to confront the persistence of racism in all its forms.

Image credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona

If the commitment and outrage shown by many during the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 transcended social media (which in many cases it sadly did not) then arguably, Black History Month 2021 is a marker for individuals and organisations to pause and reflect on whether they have actually educated themselves about Black history, heritage and culture.

There is also something to be said about the loss of momentum and appetite for systemic change that generally occurs once November 1st arrives. This has oftentimes made Black History Month almost feel like a tick box exercise. Lastly, it is critical that we discuss Black history outside of October and begin to examine the shared and intertwining nature of our histories across society as a whole.

So what does Black History Month mean to me? Black History Month represents a potential catalyst for important conversations to happen all year round. These conversations extend to what it means to be black and British in the 21st Century, how we decolonise our curriculum, and how we progress as a country.

Black History Month must be a reminder that culture is not just a commodity to be appropriated and monetised. Black History Month is an important opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of those who came before us and to celebrate the many great things about being black and British.

Ajoa Akuamoah