With another welcome response to our Black History Month email interview, Paul Boakye enlightens us with his thoughts - which include a great idea for how the BHM website could push itself forward and build even more buzz. To read more of our Black History Month coverage, please click on me.

1. Can you please explain who you are and summarise your perspective on the aims and purpose of Black History Month?

Writer and marketing expert (former editor of Drum magazine) – who sat on the Power Commission – an independent inquiry into Britain’s democracy.

I specialise in targeting niche audiences through the arts, business, and educational printed resources; so naturally, I’m in favour of Black History Month and wholly support its right to exist.

2. For 30 years, October has marked the celebration of black history and culture in the United Kingdom. Why is it important that we carry on this tradition?

Black boys need positive role models from within their communities according to the recent government report, REACH, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government and which calls for a national programme to encourage successful professionals to become mentors for black teenagers.

If we also accept that the history and culture of black people in Britain is rarely taught in schools and universities or seen on TV and cinema screens, then it seems perfectly reasonable to me that at least one month a year should be given over to celebrating the contributions made by people of African descent to the benefit and wellbeing of our multicultural society.

3. Which black personality has had the greatest influence on your life and why?
Marcus Garvey – “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

In Africa the world’s richest continent contains its poorest people. Marcus Garvey advocated that Africans control the wealth of Africa. Garvey, like Marx, taught that control of resources, self and nation requires preparation. Garveyism was all about total preparation and the creation of a blueprint for action. The legacy of Marcus Garvey is still very much apparent in much of the music I like from Bob Marley to Wyclef and beyond.

4. Throughout the month there are numerous events running across the country, encapsulating various facets of black history and culture – what would your dream event be? No matter how impossible!

My dream event is more of a coordinated activity. I’d like to see a web-based BHM one stop shop – a comprehensive online listing of all Black History Month activities and events taking place across the UK (and eventually perhaps throughout the world).

Each year as a new theme is chosen for Black History Month, you would register your bonafided activity or event via www.bhminfo.com to benefit from its many features, increased exposure, and cash awards in various categories.

Like Ticketmaster, you could find and buy your tickets to concerts, sports activities, exhibitions, film screenings, family events, and so on. You would also be provided with contextually related links to further reading, books online, holidays & travel, health/recipes, kid stuff, etc.

A very simple idea really…free of charge to you!

5. Name one website that you would recommend to someone with an interest in black culture or black history.

PBS | African American World

6. Some commentators (mainly from the US) seem to think that Black History Month does more to divide society than unite it - what is your view on this?

This argument might have some validity in America where society seems more polarised along defined lines of race and colour and BHM is only celebrated in African-American neighbourhoods.

Like Notting Hill Carnival in Britain, however, the events and activities of Black History Month are rarely, if ever, exclusively ‘all-black’ affairs.

During BHM in the UK, members of the wider community and young black men and women are just as likely to learn about influential ethnic minority contributors to our idea of multicultural exchange and our modern sense of Britishness.

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