Black History Month runs throughout October and this year’s theme is ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’. Black History Month (BHM) is an annual celebration of the contribution that people of Black African and Caribbean heritage have made both locally, nationally and across the world. We’re using the awareness month as an opportunity to celebrate staff of African Diaspora and to come together against racism, prejudice and injustice.
As part of this, staff from across the organisation have shared blogs about their culture, their achievements, why Black History Month is important to them and who inspires them. You can read them below. More will be added throughout the month.
Black History Month to me, means understanding Black history and learning about the contributions that many brilliant Black individuals have made to both British and global history, whilst celebrating and supporting Black achievements.
“About me” I was born on the African island of Mauritius and came to England at a young age when my father received a scholarship to study nursing in the UK. Transition was difficult for me; making new friends, going to a new school, learning a new language and yes, getting used to the cold climate...
Black history is important as it raises awareness and highlights the achievements of so many great people at a local and international level, celebrating past and present events. It is a time to remember the struggles, inequalities and negative perceptions and help turn those around but also celebrate the wins and embrace the positive changes that are happening.
I was born in Tooting, London spending a short span of my childhood there. Still young my mother, of Trinidadian origin returned with me to Trinidad where I spent many years with my father and sibling. While there, I followed numerous career paths, eventually becoming a Teacher/Head Teacher for over 10 years.
From an early age, I remember, that I wanted to work in healthcare, and to help people. I grew up in Zimbabwe and not the capital city Harare. In school, me and my friends would fight over who would have what role when they grew up, vying with the boys to become an ambulance driver!
