Black History Month 2024
To mark the start of Black History Month, our EDI Development Lead Akeisha shares her personal connection throughout the years, and our upcoming plans for the month ahead.
Growing up, Black History Month wasn’t really celebrated in my home. Every day felt like an expression of our Caribbean culture – there was always music playing from Beres Hammond and John Holt, my parents cooked food from ‘back home,’ we had artwork and figurines of Black icons in our house. We lived by our community values and our traditions every day.
However, as I went through education and into the workplace, the space I had to express my culture decreased. Sometimes I’d be the only Black person in a space, so I’d feel isolated or embarrassed to show my differences. Other times, even though there would be several Black people, we would be looked down upon for truly expressing ourselves, so it was easier to hide ourselves in order to fit in.
As I’ve gotten older, Black History Month has become more important to me as it provides a space to celebrate and share my culture with others. Also, I get to enjoy learning about the culture and traditions of other Black people from around the world. October is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique experiences which would otherwise fade into the background. It is a chance for everyone to learn, celebrate and connect with one another, and I look forward to it every year!
This year, the theme for Black History Month is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ which is all about showcasing the traditions, creativity and achievements of Black people throughout history and in the present day. To celebrate this, we’ll be releasing special ‘Your Voice Your Story’ podcast episodes with Black staff members and the people we support, who will be sharing stories about their culture and heritage in some special Black History Month episodes. If you would like to get involved, let me know!
Your Voice Your Story Podcast
This year, the theme for Black History Month is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, which is all about showcasing the traditions, creativity and achievement of Black people throughout history and in the present day.
To celebrate this, we’ll be releasing special ‘Your Voice Your Story’ podcast episodes with Black staff members and the people we support, who will be sharing stories about their culture and heritage in some special Black History Month episodes.
If you would like to share your story about your culture, heritage or ethnicity, we would love to hear from you. Stories can be on anything such as important traditions, celebrations, cultural dress, food, music or hobbies, and it only needs to be a few minutes long.
If you’re struggling to think of something but would like to be involved, don’t worry! Just reach out to me and we can shape your story together.
Black History Month Lunches
Shared mealtimes are important in many Black cultures as a way to celebrate and strengthen family and community bonds. At Head Office, we’re opening a space for lunch gatherings every Friday throughout October. Why not hold something similar at your service as a way for people to connect and share their stories?
Share what Black History Month means to you by emailing EDI@creativesupport.co.uk. If you have any events or activities planned this month, why not send your photos? We can’t wait to see what everyone is up to!