Why Is Black History Month Important?
People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, their value and contribution to society has been often overlooked, ignored or distorted.
Many schools still teach a history curriculum that focuses on events and achievements of white figures, ignoring the contribution of those from African and Caribbean backgrounds.
Black History Month gives everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture.
How Is Black History Month Celebrated?
The event is intended to recognise the contribution and achievements of those with African or Caribbean heritage. It’s also an opportunity for people to learn more about the effects of racism and how to challenge negative stereotypes.
Black History Month is celebrated across a wide reach of our society; not just in schools but also within workplaces, care homes, museums and more – with a wide range of topics covered including culture (music, film, books, etc.) as well as migration and Britain’s colonial past.
It is also worth noting that government funding is available to some organisations that wish to mark Black History Month in their area. For more information, contact your local authority to find out what funding could be available.
One of the UK’s leading organisations with regards to celebrating black history is 100 Great Black Britons. We certainly recommend visiting their site to learn more!
Movies To Watch
For 2021’s Black History Month, betternotstop wanted to highlight movies and series that recognise and tell the story of influential black figures throughout history.
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Hidden Figures: Based on a true story about a team of African-American women working for and providing NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program’s first successful space missions. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan worked for NASA when their unit was segregated by race and sex. This is the story of how they overcame this prejudice to help NASA’s 1960’s missions in space become successful.
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Southside With You: A 2016 American biographical romantic drama film written, produced, and directed by Richard Tanne, in his feature film directorial debut. The film stars Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as a young Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson, respectively, and focuses on the couple’s first date in 1989.
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12 Years A Slave: A 2013 biographical period-drama film directed by Steve McQueen and an adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northup; a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before being released.
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Dolemite Is My Name: Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.
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When They See Us: A mini-series rather than a film, this production is based on events of the 19th April 1989; the Central Park jogger case. The series explores the lives of the five suspects who were wrongfully prosecuted on charges related to the sexual assault of a female victim, and of their families. Created by Academy Award winner Ava DuVerney, this is a must watch.
For more movie and entertainment recommendations, please check out some of our previous blogs:
- 10 Netflix Documentaries That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity And Inspire You To Change The World
- 10 Podcasts To Improve Your Day
- Five Travel Films That Changed My Life
