Black History Month
October marked the beginning of British Black History Month. The month is a celebration and promotion of Black people’s contributions to British society, and it encourages our understanding of Black history in the UK and all over the world.
This year’s Black History Month theme is Time for Change: Actions Not Words. The goal of this theme is to not only educate people about Black History, but also to inform and empower them to be true allies in the anti-racism movement.
Origin of Black history month
The origins of the month can be traced back to the 1920s when Carter G. Woodson, the “father of Black history “organised ‘Negro History Week’ in the United States and Canada. It was a week dedicated to black history and culture because it was not covered in the school curriculum.
Because so many people wanted to learn more about black history, the week evolved into Black History Month, which is celebrated every February in the United States. This month was chosen because it coincided with the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass, an African American social reformer, and Abraham Lincoln, the president who “freed the slaves.”
Black History month in the UK
In the United Kingdom, October was chosen to be Black History Month. This national celebration aims to promote and celebrate Black people’s contributions to British society and to foster a better understanding of Black history. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a special projects officer at the Greater London Council and later at the London Strategic Policy Unit, founded Black History Month UK in 1987. After Addai-Sebo decided to address the identity crisis that Black children faced in the UK, the first Black History Month UK was held.
Black history month is celebrated in October in the UK because October is traditionally when African chiefs and leaders gather to settle disputes, Akyaaba chose this month to reconnect with black people’s roots on the continent. Furthermore, many people believed that because it was the start of the new academic year, October would instil a sense of pride and identity in black children.
Importance of Black History Month
For centuries, people of African and Caribbean descent have been an important part of British history. Campaigners, on the other hand, believe that their worth and contribution to society are frequently overlooked, ignored, or distorted.
Most schools continue to teach a history curriculum that focuses on traditional events and the accomplishments of white people. Black History Month provides an opportunity for everyone to share, celebrate, and comprehend the significance of black heritage and culture.
Black History Month and Sunbeam
Sunbeam Fostering Agency has many carers from black ethnic backgrounds in different regions, demonstrating the ethnic diversity within our agency. We receives countless referrals for children of various ethnicities, which therefore enables us to match children appropriately. We need foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds, races and religion. This is because all children have their own unique and individual background and heritage. You do not need to be married, own a house or have children of your own.
Sunbeam Fostering would like to begin this year’s Black History Month by recognising the care and support provided by our Black foster carers to children and young people from various cultures and backgrounds staying with them. We appreciate the dedication, perseverance, and flexibility demonstrated by Sunbeam Fostering foster carers in meeting the needs of the children and young people in their care.
Thank you to all foster carers for your continued support and looking after more than 65,000 foster children and young people at any one day in the UK.
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