News & Views

As part of Black History Month UK, English Heritage has unveiled a blue plaque honouring Winifred Atwell, the pioneering Trinidadian pianist, television star, and entrepreneur who became the first Black artist to top the UK pop charts.

In the history of Black British activism, the Black Parents Movement (BPM) represents a pivotal chapter, connecting grassroots parent power, youth activism, and radical politics. Emerging in 1975, the BPM drew inspiration from the Black Education Movement (BEM), supplementary schools, and a growing network of Black community organisations. Its work continues to influence debates on race, education, and community agency, making it central to our Legacies of Action: Understandi

Born in 1958, Elizabeth “Liz” Obi became politically active as a teenager in London during a time of deep racial inequality and social tension. By 1972, she had joined the British Black Panther Movement, which was at the forefront of anti-racist activism in Britain. It was through this movement that she met Olive Morris, forming a close partnership grounded in shared purpose and radical vision. Together, they campaigned against housing discrimination, police harassment, and i

Dame Jocelyn Barrow was a pioneering British educator, civil rights activist, and public servant. As a founder of CARD and a champion of multicultural education, she helped transform race relations, media representation, and cultural heritage in the UK. Her work forms a central part of the “Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge” campaign, tracing the achievements of Black British activists over decades.

what to watch during uk black history month 2025

Thing to Do during UK Black History Month 2025 - London is brimming with exhibitions, performances, talks, and cultural experiences all month long. Here's our guide to the best events to explore this October.

As part of our Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge Black History Month UK campaign, we explore the British Black Panthers, leaders of Britain’s Black Power movement. Their legacy of resistance, unity, and advocacy continues to shape racial justice today.

The article examines the rise and fall of political Blackness in the UK, emphasising its role in uniting racialised communities, the effects of division, and the urgent need for renewed cross-community solidarity today.

The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination: Britain’s Civil Rights Experiment This article is based on original research by Alysha Robinson, University of Manchester History Department. We are grateful for permission to reproduce and adapt it.

Explore Bernard Coard's legacy as an educator and catalyst for change in Black education. Discover how Bernard Coard's work reshaped UK policies.

In 1975 Mollie co-founded the Caribbean Parents Group (CPG) in Ealing. The group emerged in response to the local council’s policy of bussing Black and Asian children out of their neighbourhood schools, a practice designed to limit the number of “immigrant” children in any one classroom.

IBHM-UK launches their theme for Black History Month UK 2025 - Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge - and all the ways to celebrate it in October.