Black history month. A month to celebrate the achievements of black men and women across the world. A month to remember the bigotry and hardships our ancestors endured. A month to appreciate how far society has come and remind the world of how far we still have to go.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements of People of colour and a time for recognizing the central role of black people in history. But over the years, the special month has seemed to lose its value in the hearts of the British People.
The month of October is supposed to be a time, where everyone reflects on the actions of black people in the past and celebrates all the beautiful things black people have done but in thousands of schools around the country, including my own, black history month isn’t acknowledged as this cultural celebration but shunned for not being ‘diverse’ enough, for not including everyone and for ‘segregating races, as was done in the past.’
But that’s not what Black History is about. Black history is encouraging people from all backgrounds to learn about some of the forgotten heroes of the black community such as Walter Tull, Mary Seacole and Phillis Wheatley.
The likes of Walter Tull who was one of English football's first black players and the British Army's first-ever black officer to command white troops. Walter Tull lead 26 men on a night raid against an enemy position. He and his men crossed the cold River Piave into enemy territory before returning, all unharmed despite coming under heavy fire. He died in combat months later, but for all his heroic actions and groundbreaking accomplishments, Walter Tull has not received the Military Cross Medal for his dedication to Britain and has been a forgotten face in the UK’s history.
Throughout every black person’s life, they face adversity and hardships. Throughout every black person’s life, they have to work 12x harder to achieve their goals, they have to be certain not to slip up as that can cost them their future. So this, one month a year, 31 days out of a 365-day calendar - why can’t we celebrate the achievements of Black People around the world? why can’t we inspire little black girls and boys to reach for the stars because they’re worth it? Why can’t we remember the struggles of our ancestors and let that motivate and encourage Black People to be the best versions of themselves?
In a year that has been filled with not just a want for change but a need for change it is important that Black history is celebrated and remembered.
Just as Martin Luther King jr said fifty-seven years ago ‘ I have a dream’ and I have that same dream today and more. That the beautiful culture of Black People is celebrated and venerated in British Society.
