Nottingham will be marking Black History Month from 1 to 31 October with a range of events and activities at venues across the city.
Black History Month has been celebrated nationally every October since 1987. It’s a chance to celebrate and recognise the contribution that African and African-Caribbean people have made to Nottingham and the UK over the many hundreds of years they’ve been a part of the country’s social fabric.
Nottingham’s proud African/African-Caribbean heritage includes people like:
George Africanus, a West African former slave who made his name as the city’s first black entrepreneur in the 1700s
Viv Anderson, the first black player to represent England and a key member of Nottingham Forest’s European Cup winning side
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, this year’s BBC classical young musician of the year
Len Garrison, cultural historian, voted one of the greatest 100 Black Britons
Lyn Gilzene, local activist and campaigner
Many ex-service personnel like Oswald George Powe who fought during the Second World War
Olympic gymnasts Becky and Ellie Downie
Councillor Toby Neal, Executive Councillor for Equalities, Customer Focus, IT and Technology said: “Nottingham has a long and proud African and African Caribbean heritage so it’s great that there is such as wide range of events taking place in the city to celebrate Black History Month this year.”
Venues holding Black History Month events include the New Art Exchange, Nottingham Contemporary, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Castle, Lakeside Arts, Nottingham Playhouse and the Theatre Royal/Royal Centre.
A Black History Month events programme can be downloaded at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/whatson
You can also get updates via Facebook at /BlackHistoryNottm or Twitter @BHMNottm
More information on Black History Month nationally can be found at www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk