How to Celebrate Black History Month in the UK

There are usually a number of great talks and exhibitions held during Black History Month, but these have – of course – been curtailed somewhat by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. There will still be some in-person events going ahead, but this year the focus will be on virtual and online resources.

The best place to start is the comprehensive Blackhistorymonth.org.uk website, which covers the whole of the UK and is updated regularly with news and information. This is a year-round resource which includes in-depth features, interviews and explainers for every visitor. We’ll pick out some of the best events posted in their regional section, but for the most up-to-date listings, make sure to bookmark their guide page.

Meanwhile, this year’s London Film Festival will be launching with a new film by Steve McQueen, focussing on racial tensions in and around Notting Hill in the 1970s. Mangrove stars Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes and Malachi Kirby and will be receiving its European premiere on 7 October. The film will get a limited release in cinemas, but fans around the country can watch the film at virtual screenings, which will be an important part of the festival this year.

Over on Sky History, a season of new documentaries will run alongside classic features throughout the month. There will also be an important social-media-led campaign called 31 Faces Of Black British History, telling the stories of figures throughout British history who have often been overlooked or marginalised because of their race.

London boasts a particularly strong schedule of events – all open to the public – which take place throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other significant regional walks, talks and exhibitions being held around the country. Here’s our pick of the very best events taking place this October.