Black History Month UK
Black History Month UK 2025
This October, we celebrate Black History Month UK 2025 with the theme “Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge.”
​
2025 marks 60 years since the UK’s first Race Relations Act, a landmark moment in the ongoing journey towards racial justice and equality. Throughout the month, we will explore pivotal moments in UK history that paved the way for this historic legislation, reflecting on the challenges faced and the progress achieved.
​
We will spotlight the trailblazing civil rights groups who shaped this journey, including the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD), the Black British Panthers, and the Black Parents Movement. These organisations challenged injustice, fought for equality, and
played a vital role in influencing the laws and social change that followed.
​
Through this celebration, we honour the changemakers, movements, and communities whose courage and persistence over the past six decades have left a lasting legacy. Their actions remind us that progress is built on determination, solidarity, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.​
Past campaigns
_edited.jpg)
.png)
What is Black History Month UK?
Black History Month UK was the brainchild of Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a special projects officer at the Greater London Council. He wanted to boost the self-esteem of Black British children and young adults who were struggling to deal with the overt racism of the time by educating them on the achievements of Black people in the UK and across the globe.
​
​Taking inspiration from Black History Month (also known as African-American History Month) in the United States. The first official event took place on 1st October 1987 at County Hall. The keynote speaker was ILEA (Inner London Education Authority) deputy leader Bernard Wiltshire, and presentations were made by American historian Dr Maulana Karenga and Kenyan women’s activist Wanjiru Kihoro.​
​​It has since evolved into a national movement that is focused on Black British History and is observed throughout the UK. International Black History Month is also recognised in Ireland, Italy, Germany and Netherlands in October and Canada in February.
