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What is Black History Month and why is it celebrated in different months in the US and UK?
Oct 1, 2020
Today marks the start of Black History Month in the UK.
And the month is being marked in a number of diverse ways – from famous Brits such as Sir Lenny Henry and Mary Seacole being honoured on postboxes, through to Alison Hammond learning more about black British history in Alison Hammond: Back To School.
Black History Month has been celebrated in the UK for decades now, but just what is the month all about, when did it start – and why do we celebrate it in a different month to the US?
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month aims to highlight and celebrate the stories of prominent black people, who may have been left out of mainstream, white-centric history.
It was first celebrated in the UK in October 1987, and was the initiative of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who had worked as a co-ordinator of special projects for the Greater London Council (GLC).
The concept of Black History Month originated in the US, at Kent State University, where it was first proposed in 1969 and first celebrated from January 2-February 28 1970.
Within six years it was being marked in educational institutions all across the country, with President Gerald Ford telling Americans to ‘seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history’.
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