ACROSS THE POND

I Hate Black History Month

October is BHM in Britain and the separation of Black history from British history only exacerbates racist narratives.

Stop holding your breath and close your mouth. Now please continue reading…Black History Month is a celebration that justifies the relegation of Black people’s presence along Britain’s Imperial and Colonial timelines to one month.

Viewing British history through a Black lens one month a year allows for the misrepresentation of more than 400 years of shared histories as it presupposes that both histories are not inextricably linked. Black history is British history and there should be no separation.

This misnomer encourages a kind of cultural inertia that supports the continued teaching of British history without accurate consideration or inclusion of Black people. This reinforces the notion that Black people were not present in Britain or its colonies were not part of Britain’s domestic economy, and as such, made no significant contribution to the economic or cultural development of this country.

For instance, one of Henry VIII trumpeters, John Blanke, got married in London in 1512, and was gifted a new wedding outfit by the king. He is known as a Black musician of the Tudor…