Black History Month October 2022
Black History Month is both a time to celebrate and a time to learn about and understand Black history and culture. This year’s theme for Black History Month 2022 is Time for Change: Action Not Words.
Black History Month 1970
As Negro History Week grew in popularity, black educators and students at Kent State University argued that a week was not long enough and proposed a month-long event.
The first Black History Month was celebrated at Kent State University from January 2-February 28, 1970.
In 1976 Black History Month was celebrated across the country in conjunction with the United States Bicentennial celebrations.
At this time President Gerald Ford formally recognised the month and urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history”.
Why is October Black History Month?
During the Thatcher era, following the Brixton, Tottenham and Toxteth riots, Black Britons were experiencing high levels of marginalisation and racism.
In response to this, Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian analyst and activist, who was working as the Special Projects Officer at the Greater London Council coordinated the first official Black History Month event on 1st October 1987, with speaker Dr Maulana Karenga, the originator of Kwanzaa.
Corps Together would like you to follow the below link to find BHM listings for the many events taking place throughout October
