Black History Month UK 2026

October 1st marks the start of Black History Month in the UK and our theme for the month is ‘Breaking Barriers to Publishing Futures.’

From early Black writers and publishers to independent presses, literary festivals and today's new generation of publishers and digital platforms, we'll discover the people who turned barriers into opportunities, built communities and created new ways for Black stories to be shared, celebrated and heard.

We'll shine a spotlight on the first Black publishing house New Beacon Books and celebrate notable Black Britons such as Margaret Busby, who is Britain's youngest and first Black woman book publisher in 1967.

Black British History Timeline

1964 - Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD)

The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD), formed in 1964, was an interracial coalition challenging racism in Britain. It pushed for stronger laws than the 1965 Race Relations Act, focusing on discrimination in housing, employment, and public life, and helped shape early race relations policy.

1968 - British Black Panthers

The British Black Panthers, founded in 1968 in Notting Hill, were inspired by the US Black Panther Party. They fought racial injustice in Britain, tackling police brutality and discrimination in housing, education, and jobs, while promoting Black self-determination and community empowerment.

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1975 - Black Parents Movement

The Black Parents Movement, founded in 1975, supported Black communities in Britain—particularly the working class and unemployed. Active through the mid-1980s, it tackled racism in education, policing, housing, and jobs, while engaging in legal campaigns and international solidarity work, especially with Grenada and Guyana.

60 years on from the Race Relations Act – How far have we really come?

In 1965, the UK took its first legal step against racial discrimination with the Race Relations Act, acknowledging that racism is a societal issue, not just an individual failing. Sixty years on, the question remains: how far have we really come? Are we moving forward, or are we at risk of sliding backward?