Celebrating Black History Month (UK)!

October marks the celebration of Black History Month in the UK. In a recent interview with Euronews, ENAR Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Network Development Ojeaku Nwabuzo discussed the importance of Black History Month, saying: “It’s an opportunity for people to consider and expand their knowledge of Black history.”

Sadly, the event is, by and large, missing across European Member States.

“The reason why Black History Month was initiated, was because of the institutional racism within the schools and within the curriculum, and the fact that either Black people’s histories were omitted, or there was discriminatory racist stereotyping of Black people,” Nwabuzo says.

Although Black History Month is nearly over in the UK, we should continuously seek to expand our understanding of Black History, as well as the contribution and presence of Black people throughout European culture and history. To that end, ENAR has compiled a small list of recommendations spanning from movies, books, and musicians which explore Black history and culture:

Documentary

• Ma mosquée ideale by Lallab (ENAR member)

Movies

• Hidden Figures (2016)
• Fences (2016)
• Moonlight (2016)
• Malcolm X (1992)

Books

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Remi Eddo-Lodge
• Angola Djanga by Marcelo D’Salete
• Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
• We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
• Une si longue lettre by Mariama Ba
• Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Musicians

“Gore” by Lous and The Yakuza

“Are You Experienced” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

“Game Theory” by The Roots

“To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar

You can find out more about the discrimination Black people and people of African descent face in Europe by reading our 2014/2015 Shadow Report on Afrophobia.