October is Black History Month!

Black History Month has been celebrated in October in the UK since 1987. The theme this year is 'Reclaiming Narratives', with the goal of recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.

This theme focuses on addressing and righting historical inaccuracies, highlighting untold success stories, and showcasing the full complexity of Black heritage. As the Black History Month website puts it:  "For too long, the history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it."

This is therefore a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get involved, learn more about and celebrate Black history, helping reshape how it is perceived, taught and passed on to future generations. 

The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Team at Birmingham City Council have prepared a special Black History Month educational pack that contains some fantastic recommendations across books, film & television and podcasts. It also features profiles of three inspirational Black Brummies: Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, Constable Andrea Reynold and Benjamin Zephaniah. 

Download our Black History Month pack for 2024

For live events in Birmingham, check out listings on the Black History Month website and at the University of Birmingham. The Birmingham Literature Festival, ongoing until 19 October, will be hosting a tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah on Monday 7 October at Birmingham Cathedral.

There is also a great digital brochure available from the Blackstory Partnership. Take a look here.

Elsewhere, Birmingham Jazz are putting on a gig every week and hosting a three-day festival to round out the month. Significant Jazz musicians will be celebrated, two new pieces of work commissioned and an anti-slavery suite delivered by a mix of local, national and international stars.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

To learn more about the origins and evolution of Black History Month, watch the short video below.