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.”
Tag Archives: Black Britain
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.”
What Does Kemi Badenoch Really Mean for Black Britain?
In an unprecedented moment, Kemi Badenoch stands as the first Black leader of a major UK political party—a milestone, yes, but not the triumph some might celebrate it as. Instead, it serves as a wake-up call for Black communities and allies in Britain. Is this a victory for true representation, or just a convenient facadeContinue reading “What Does Kemi Badenoch Really Mean for Black Britain?”
Discover Hidden Histories: Black Pioneers You’ve Never Heard Of
As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to remember that history is often written by those in power, leaving many key figures out of the narrative. While we rightly honour icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, there are countless Black individuals whose contributions have shaped society but remain largely forgotten. TheseContinue reading “Discover Hidden Histories: Black Pioneers You’ve Never Heard Of”
The Importance of Racial Wellness in Schools
By Michelle Racial trauma can be described as the mental and emotional impacts that a person experiences as a result of exposure to racism. This exposure may be direct, for example by being on the receiving end of racist insults or frequent microaggressions, or more ‘indirect’ such as hearing distressing news about a racist incidentContinue reading “The Importance of Racial Wellness in Schools”
Black Publishing Britain
By Michelle Black British authors are severely underrepresented within UK publishing. This lack of representation is felt amongst publishing in general, but also within the reception of prestigious British literary prizes, such as the Booker prize, the Walter Scott prize, and more. An analysis by The Guardian of the racial diversity of nominees for theContinue reading “Black Publishing Britain”
The Criminalisation of the Black Child
By Jamila The big picture It is widely understood that Black communities and Black people in the UK are overpoliced and underprotected by the criminal justice system (CJS) as we are more than ten times more likely to be stopped and searched than our white counterparts. Statistics also indicate the Black people are likely toContinue reading “The Criminalisation of the Black Child “
Chris Kaba’s family meets with UN
On Tuesday 17 January, our Director Ife Thompson and a member of the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign supported the family of Chris Kaba while they met with the UN. During this meeting the family discussed their campaign for justice for the police killing of their son. It had previously been mentioned by Ife thatContinue reading “Chris Kaba’s family meets with UN”
Bun the MBE, OBE and CBE and all other trinkets of Babylon’s Empire
By Rianna Key:OBE – Officer of the Order of the British EmpireMBE – Member of the Order of the British EmpireCBE – Commander of the British Empire In Britain we have what is called The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It is a set of honours established by King George V in 1917Continue reading “Bun the MBE, OBE and CBE and all other trinkets of Babylon’s Empire”
BLAM UK CIC 