One way of learning more about the contributions of Black Britons this Black History Month is to attend events near to you; in this blog, we list just some you may wish to visit over the month of October.

1. I’m History, Get Me Out of Here! (Online)

If you are an educator, why not empower your students to revisit the history of Britain and gain a deeper understanding of Black British history by chatting with historians about stories beyond slavery. Students can connect with historians championing lesser-known Black British figures throughout history, from Emperor Septimius Severus of Roman Britain to 20th Century journalist Claudia Jones.

These chats take place online through text-based chats, and you can book your 40-monute live session at a time that suits your timetable. The places are funded for schools thanks to funding from UKRI, and you can book a slot at a time to suit your class between 3rd and 21st October.

2. City of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour (London)

Learn more about how the roots of London were embedded in the colonisation of the continent of Africa and the Americas. Engraved in the capital’s big buildings are stories of Britain’s involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its legacy. The tour follows the hidden story of one of Britain’s first Slave Traders and explores how one family became rich from the interest they earned from merchants borrowing money for their long voyages, as well as their corporation involvement in the handling of slaves.

The tour will last about three hours, and will run on Saturdays from 11.45am between 1st and 29th October. Book your ticket here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/city-of-london-slave-trade-money-trail-tour-black-history-month-special-tickets-235698820517?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

3. Virtual Black American Women Tour of London (Online)

This virtual tour of London highlights the important and inspiring roles that US Black women played in the transatlantic freedom struggle. In this tour, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Liverpool will be visited in order to explore the histories of some of the women who enabled change as part of the transatlantic freedom struggle.

African American activities travelled across the British Isles during the 19th Century to educate audiences about the brutalities of slavery, to write and publish their testimonies, raise money to legally purchase themselves or family members, or to settle and work here.

This virtual tour will take place on Thursday 6th October, and you can book your ticket here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-black-american-women-tour-of-london-tickets-162251842629?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

4. Everything to Everybody: Your Shakespeare, Your Culture (Stratford-Upon-Avon)

This free exhibition tells visitors the story of how the first Shakespeare library in the world was created. The library is now home to thousands of items of Shakespearean history, including photographs, music scores, programmes and playbills. Through this history, the exhibition will ask the audience what culture means to them and to encourage them to create their own version of a library.

This event is a project being run in collaborating between the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council, with funding contributed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The exhibition will run until 5th November 2022 at The Gallery, Level 3 in the Library of Birmingham and no booking is required. The exhibition will be accessible Mondays and Tuesdays 11am-7pm and Wednesdays to Saturdays 11am-5pm.

5. Remembering Britain’s Black Servicemen and Servicewomen (Online)

Join this virtual talk with S.I. Martin on Friday 11th November to learn more about the legacies of Black men and women who served in Britain’s armed forces. During the talk, S.I. Martin will explain why these individuals volunteered, and how this impacts on us today.

Find out more, and book your place, here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-britains-black-servicemen-and-servicewomen-tickets-405110896597?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch.

Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list of events and there are many different types of activities to get involved with this Black History Month. To find a full list of events, as well as other fascinating resources such as education packs, visit the official Black History Month website https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the British Association for Local History (BALH). Any content provided by our contributors is of their own opinion and is not intended to malign any individual, group, organisation, or entity.