Emmanuel Afolabi: What Black History Month means to me

I see Black History Month as a time to reflect on how far we have come and also acknowledge how much more can still be done to improve the lives of black people around the world. 

Previously, I hadn’t engaged much with Black History Month, but I intend to do so more intentionally this year. Black History Month raises awareness of both the negative and positive aspects of black experiences in the UK and abroad. 

It is very much still relevant, and we must continue to celebrate it so that important aspects of our lived experience cannot be swept under the carpet.

Above all else, I think people need to be exposed to black history before slavery. Many people wrongly assume that this is somehow the starting point for black experiences but of course, this couldn't be further from the truth. We had our own thriving civilisation before colonialism and it is important that light is shed on that.

Emmanuel Afolabi