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 history
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.”
IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour: A New Generation’s Journey of Learning and Decolonisation.
The American streamer IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) is currently live-streaming his travels through Africa, turning social media into a live classroom for millions of young viewers. This new generation of learning, through unscripted livestreams, allows people to discover history and culture in an engaging way. Speed’s trip became a lesson in African history and pride.Continue reading “IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour: A New Generation’s Journey of Learning and Decolonisation.”
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.”
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”
Debunking the Myth of the “Evil” Jab Jab
Jab Jab (from French diable, devil) is often misrepresented in media as something dark or demonic. In reality, Jab Jab is a proud Grenadian and Caribbean masquerade tradition rooted in resistance and celebration, not evil. It dates back to 1834, when slavery was abolished across the Caribbean. Freed people took to the streets at dawnContinue reading “Debunking the Myth of the “Evil” Jab Jab”
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.”
Malcolm X at 100: Radical Legacy for Black Britain
Malcolm X (1925–1965) was an African American leader whose uncompromising demand for Black dignity and self‑determination reverberated around the world. Born Malcolm Little on 19 May 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, he witnessed violent racism from childhood – his family’s home was burned and his father killed in a likely KKK attack. These experiences drove himContinue reading “Malcolm X at 100: Radical Legacy for Black Britain”
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