Many people think of Black British history in terms of London events like the Windrush arrival or Notting Hill. But important stories happened all over Britain. Black communities in cities like Bristol, Leeds and Newcastle have reshaped the country culturally, politically and socially. Let’s explore some inspiring tales: a bus boycott in Bristol, Martin LutherContinue reading “Black British history beyond London.”
Tag Archives: Black Britain
Live Facial Recognition on Trial: Shaun Thompson v Met Police.
By Ogechi Obioha. At the Royal Courts of Justice, before Lord Justice Holgate and Mrs Justice Farbey, a fundamental question about the relationship between technology, privacy, and police power is being tested. This has been brought about by applicants Shaun Thompson, an anti-knife crime campaigner, and Silkie Carlo, the director of the civil liberties campaignContinue reading “Live Facial Recognition on Trial: Shaun Thompson v Met Police.”
Black History Month In America: shared histories and radical connections.
Every February, the United States observes Black History Month. It grew from historian Carter G. Woodson’s 1915 call to preserve Black heritage. In 2026 the theme “A Century of Black History Commemorations” marks a century since the first Negro History Week. Inspired by that theme, BLAM UK highlights African‑American radicals whose activism in Britain forged connections that continue toContinue reading “Black History Month In America: shared histories and radical connections.”
Rest in Power Eric Huntley His Legacy Lives On.
Eric Huntley passed away on 21 January 2026 at the age of 96. We at BLAM UK honour his memory and the remarkable contributions he made as an educator, publisher and activist. Born in 1929 in British Guiana (now Guyana), Eric became politically active from a young age. He helped found the People’s Progressive PartyContinue reading “Rest in Power Eric Huntley His Legacy Lives On.”
Understanding AI Surveillance: Risks for Black Communities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a powerful force in everyday life. But one of the most important, and least understood, areas where AI is growing fast is policing. At BLAM UK, our AI Accountability Project is focused on ensuring that Black communities understand how these technologies work, how they are used, and what rights andContinue reading “Understanding AI Surveillance: Risks for Black Communities”
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.”
Empire, Racism and the NHS: Why Sickle Cell Awareness Month Matters?
Sickle cell disorder distorts red blood cells into a “sickle” shape, making them clump in vessels and cause painful crises. This inherited condition was first recognised in the UK in the 1950s, just as waves of post-colonial migrants arrived and the NHS expanded. In that era, many white Britons refused to acknowledge it as aContinue reading “Empire, Racism and the NHS: Why Sickle Cell Awareness Month Matters?”
Language, Power, and the Global Majority.
In Britain and around the world, people are rethinking the words we use to describe identity. Terms like “ethnic minority” or BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) have long been used to label Black and brown communities. But today these terms are being challenged and a new phrase, “Global Majority,” is gaining ground. Coined byContinue reading “Language, Power, and the Global Majority.”
Pearl Alcock: Building Black Queer Joy in Brixton’s Underground.
Pearl Alcock (1934–2006) was a Jamaican-born Black British artist, businesswoman, and community builder. For much of the 1970s and ’80s she ran a secret club in Brixton that became legendary , Pearl’s Shebeen, the only gay bar in the area. This underground space welcomed Black gay and bisexual patrons from across London, giving them aContinue reading “Pearl Alcock: Building Black Queer Joy in Brixton’s Underground.”
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.”
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