International Migrants Day prompts us to reflect on our own stories. For Black Brits, whether from the Afro-Caribbean or African diasporas, migration isn’t just a distant concept, it is family history. Our parents, grandparents, and communities often arrived as migrants, helping build this country. On this day we recall those journeys and the truths theyContinue reading “Black British Perspectives on International Migrants Day”
Category Archives: Opinion
When Will Justice Be Served?: Why Britain’s Empire Debate Still Ignores Reparations
A recent televised confrontation between journalist Mehdi Hasan and historian Nigel Biggar brought Britain’s colonial legacy into sharp focus. Hasan challenged Biggar, whose new book Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt argues that Britons should not feel responsible for slavery, on his double standards regarding national history. Hasan pointed out that Biggar feelsContinue reading “When Will Justice Be Served?: Why Britain’s Empire Debate Still Ignores Reparations”
Gaps in the Curriculum, Gaps in the Plan: A Black Radical Breakdown.
The UK government’s recent Curriculum and Assessment Review claims it will build a “world-class curriculum for all,” yet from a Black radical perspective it’s clear there are gaping holes in this plan. The Review document pays lip service to “diversity” and “equality of opportunity,” but nowhere does it confront the reality of racism in education.Continue reading “Gaps in the Curriculum, Gaps in the Plan: A Black Radical Breakdown.”
Black August and the Power of Global Black Resistance
Every year, as summer peaks in August, Black communities around the world observe Black August, a month-long reflection on Black resistance, revolution, and the enduring fight for liberation. Unlike festive celebrations, Black August is solemn and purposeful: it began in the late 1970s among Black activists and prisoners in California, intended as a time toContinue reading “Black August and the Power of Global Black Resistance”
From Pirate Radio to Festival Headliners: How Black British Music Rose in the UK.
Black music is riding high in summer 2025. From Recessland to Notting Hill Carnival and Wireless, genres of the Black diaspora: Afrobeats, Amapiano, grime, reggae, Dancehall and R&B dominate festival line-ups. It feels like a victory lap for Black music. But not long ago, things were very different. Black music in Britain was often criminalised,Continue reading “From Pirate Radio to Festival Headliners: How Black British Music Rose in the UK.”
Racism is a Mental Health Issue: Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.
Every year the Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025) spotlights a theme. This year, the focus is “community”, celebrating the power of connection and support. Communities give us belonging, purpose and safety – everything our mental well-being needs But as we come together this week, we must also confront forces thatContinue reading “Racism is a Mental Health Issue: Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.”
Protecting Our Crowns: Sadia Kabeya’s Satin Scrum Cap Is Changing the Game
Sadia Kabeya, a 23-year-old flanker for England’s Red Roses, is a rising star on the rugby pitch. She’s also the inventor of a groundbreaking satin lined scrum cap, a simple yet powerful innovation born of Black cultural wisdom. In a sport long dominated by white men, Kabeya’s creation stands out as a beacon of BlackContinue reading “Protecting Our Crowns: Sadia Kabeya’s Satin Scrum Cap Is Changing the Game”
Your Guide to the Best Books by Black Authors.
BookTok has taken over, Black literature is thriving, and social reading is more popular than ever. If you’re looking for your next great read, we’ve got you covered! Social reading is back, with more people in their twenties taking an interest in books and joining social clubs. Terms like BookTok and Black Reads are trending,Continue reading “Your Guide to the Best Books by Black Authors.”
Henna Is How We Wear Our Roots
Across Africa, henna has long been a part of celebration, spirituality, and self-expression. For thousands of years, this natural dye – made from the leaves of the Lawsonia inermis plant – has been painted onto the skin during weddings, religious festivals, and other important life events. But today, henna is more than just a traditionContinue reading “Henna Is How We Wear Our Roots”
Preserving Culture, Resisting Erasure: BLAM UK Stands in Solidarity with Global Struggles
In a world where cultural traditions are increasingly under threat, movements for resistance and preservation are more vital than ever. At BLAM UK, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the struggles faced by communities in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and across the African diaspora. These struggles, rooted in a shared history of colonisation andContinue reading “Preserving Culture, Resisting Erasure: BLAM UK Stands in Solidarity with Global Struggles”
BLAM UK CIC 