As we celebrate the beginning of this year’s Black History Month, UNISON East Midlands’ Gilly Anglin-Jarrett shares her own experience of the annual celebration.
As the current Chair of the Regional Black Members Network (RBMN) and as a Black woman I have always believed that Black History is about more than celebrating for one month per year. I see Black History as our world history and every month there should be information about Black History in all schools and not just being part of the citizenship curriculum.
I have previously spoken at school Black History Month (BHM) events to white and Black students and suggested to the school staff and leadership teams that they should have images of Black people all over their school, this is how they create a welcoming environment for all Black parents and Black children when they attend the open evenings.
For me Black History has always been about celebrating Black excellence and Black achievements, ideally providing Black speakers who have excelled locally, regionally, or nationally so that all who attend can be both empowered and educated too.
From a trade union or sector perspective we are seeing more Black trade union members getting to the highest leadership positions in their organisations. This year – at our Black History Month event – we have the former first Black President of NASUWT, Michelle Codrington-Rogers who has all through her career as a secondary school citizenship teacher advocated for Black History to be taught in all schools.
Our RBMN will be hosting our annual BHM event at the African Caribbean Community Centre in Leicester on Saturday 29 October 2022 from 10am. The theme is ‘Black History is World History’ and we will also be joined by Leicester’s first Black Lord Mayor George Cole. This event is open to all members of our region and is not just for Black members.
