Black History Month 2025

There is no single official organisation which runs or organises Black History Month (BHM) in the UK. A range of organisations including universities, local authorities, voluntary groups, museums and libraries take part in planning and running events.

There is however an online and print magazine that provides a point of focus for BHM celebrations and events. A key theme for this year’s BHM is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’.

Each year the magazine provides a selection of BHM introductions written by thought leaders and parliamentarians. This year’s includes introductions from Paulette Hamilton MP, Rob Neil OBE, and Cherron Inko-Tariah MBE. In previous years it has had introductions by Lord Woolley of Woodford, Kemi Badenoch MP, Dawn Butler MP, Ed Davey MP, and Lord Boateng.

 

Background

Black History Month (BHM) has been recognised in the United Kingdom and celebrated annually since 1987, when it was marked with an event hosted at the Commonwealth Institute.

The tradition began in the United States, with its origins in the 1920s and 30s when a week in February was selected by the historian Carter G. Woodson as ‘Negro History Week’ (see: Library of Congress: February is Black History Month). This informal celebration of ‘Black history’ became formally recognised by the US Government in 1976, when President Gerald Ford urged all American people to, ‘seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history.’

Since then, the celebration of a BHM has spread to both Canada – where it is also celebrated in February – and the UK, where the month of October was chosen as BHM.

Black British history resources

The Black British History website, operated by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, provides a selection of useful resources.

One of the sites linked to on the Black British History website (‘The Black Presence in Britain’ website) provides a timeline of key moments in Black British history.

Black Cultural Archives (BCA) website provides a wide range of subject guides and detailed timelines (including Enslavement, Resistance and Abolition, and Medicine, Race and Activism, in addition to the BCA’s online and physical archives.

International Black History Month UK provides resources on their website, including timelines and profiles of notable figures.

The National Archives website’s ‘Black British history’ page provides research guides, resource lists, and archival records.

The Historic England website provides a timeline of ‘the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition’. 

The Parliament website also provides a timeline of ‘Parliament and the British Slave Trade’.

Previous years’ debates

Black History Month – HC Deb 24 Oct 2024 – 755 cc446-498

Black History Month – HC Deb 19 Oct 2023 – 738 cc475-481

Black History Month – HC Deb 28 Oct 2021 – 702 cc223-246WH

Black History Month – HC Deb 21 Oct 2021 – 701 cc1031-8

Black History Month – HC Deb 20 Oct 2020 – 682 cc920-1015

Relevant Library publications

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