Black History Month Archives

This image from the portfolio of ~XavierRed on DeviantART

Nina Simone was arguably the original diva (without the unreasonable demands and frankly ridiculous behaviour), a legendary jazz performer who arranged, played and sang her own songs and was considered one of the finest songwriters of her day (see this previous ArtsWom article about her live performance). A truly accomplished musician, her repertoire included such diverse styles as gospel, blues, pop and classical counterpoint. Living a long and successful life (documented well in the official site), she performed to the last, singing in Europe until shortly before her death in 2003.

Simone’s voice was her power, having the ability to switch from dark and raw to soft and sweet, and utilising every aspect of vocal range, shouting, whispering, moaning and occasionally using silence as a musical element. Her repertoire included songs with civil rights motifs, which covered topics such as the assassination of Martin Luther King and being young gifted and black in America. She surprised fans by releasing an album which was an introspective collection of songs featuring just her and a piano, and a series of versions of popular tunes from the likes of Leonard Cohen and the Bee Gees.

This huge range added to the spell-binding performance that had her audiences eating out of her hand. Her life is profiled in the Sky Arts documentary (airing today at 1pm and Saturday at 7pm) that takes an in-depth look at her music and her legend.

There are many sites dedicated to the discussion of her life and work, one of the best being the Nina Simone Community. Here fans discuss many aspects of Simone’s music and share personal stories of their experiences with each other.

Many thanks to Sokari Ekine, author of the blog Black Looks, for responding to our Black History Month interview - here are her answers in full.

1. Can you please explain who you are and summarise your perspective of the aims and purpose of BHM?

My name is Sokari Ekine, I am online Editor for Pambazuka News, a Pan African weekly newsletter for social justice. I am also an award winning blogger ( Black Looks and African Women Blogs, activist and human rights defender. I am not sure what you are asking here - my perspective on the present aims and purpose or what I would like to see? I am assuming you mean the former: The aim is clearly to educate and to inform both the Black and White population of Britain about Black history and culture through various mediums. Theatre, cinema, discussions, articles, stories, music and dance.

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?

It is important because the stories being told have tended to focus on the Caribbean and Black Britain over the past 200 years with this years focus on the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. There is more to Black history than what has so far been presented. Much of what is presented is Black British cutlure which is fine but it is insufficient for a yearly event that has been taking place for 30 years. It is important to continue because the younger generation of Black British children often have very little knowledge about their own history which is not taught in schools and even when it is touched on it is from a European perspective.

3. Which black personality has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti - A Nigerian feminist and activist and the mother of musician Fela (for more on her see this review on my blog) who taught me the strength of women, community first and gave me the courage and will to struggle for social justice. Malcolm X who taught me the importance and meaning of Blackness and the need for vigilance and consciousness in my life.

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!

For Malcolm X to make a speaking tour across schools and colleges in the country.

5. Name one website that you would recommend to someone with an interest in black culture or black history (other than your own, of course!).

Unfortunately there are not many UK based sites that I could recommend.

The BlackList

Pambazuka News.

History is being made every day - history was what happened yesterday and 1000 years ago.

6. Do you think that the omissions that you speak of in your article are symptomatic of larger issues contained within the concept of BHM?

Yes because I believe the thinking behind BHM is too parochial and after 30 years there needs to be some rethinking on how to expand the material and presentation of BHM. There are so many untold histories. What about the histories of the Black people of Latin America, their culture, their language such as Kreyol in Haiti, the Haitian revolution? The slave revolts in the Caribbean and in the US. Black people who were exterminated by Hitler in the concentration camps. The colonial and pre colonial history - struggles for independence in Mozambique, Algeria and so on. The pre-colonial history of Africa, out Kindgoms, City States and Empires. Our universities, our inventions, our sociopolitical organisations of societies. Traditional religions. None of these are dealt with in BHM. BHM is not just important to people of African descent but to all people of Britian - they too need to know we have a history. Each year could have one or two main themes and also include a festival of African cinema from the continent and Diaspora.

Many thanks to Brian Kasoro of The Liberator Magazine who is the latest person to respond to our Black History Month e-interview. Read his thoughts below. To read more of our Black History Month coverage, please click on this sexy link.

1. Can you please explain who you are and summarise your perspective of the aims and purpose of BHM?

Brian Kasoro, son of two great African parents. The purpose of Black History Month is to remind myself and the world of the history of my people, who I believe to be representative of the oldest human tradition on earth, with the understanding that no progress can be achieved in the future without an understanding of the past.

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?

I can’t answer that directly because I’m not sure that much would change if the tradition was ended to be honest. I’m also not sure that any one person or cadre of people has the power to end the tradition. All that can happen from this point on is more progress. This so-called boycott can do nothing but get African people talking more about African history and that is never a bad thing. The tradition does not need to (perhaps cannot) be ended, it can only be extended. If Black History Month “ends” it will only be because it has evolved into a greater manifestation of education, meaning the replacement of an incorrect and incomplete European history with a more complete world history that contains the missing and/or non-corrupted African history which has been and is still purposefully and criminally eliminated from educational and media venues and denied to the world and all humans.

3. Which black personality has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

I’m not influenced by personalities but my parents and those siblings and friends who I call family have had the greatest influence on my life from a first hand perspective. From an historical perspective my ancestors Jesus, Malcolm X and Kwame Ture (probably in that order) have all served as my clearest beacons for guiding me in the right direction. My exposure to the account of Jesus turning over tables in the temple was probably my first exposure to a revolutionary act against exploitation. If I can turn over a few tables in my life, I’ll be at peace with death.

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 (and I think the eventual and logical direction for the Black History Week tradition) would be to have African history take its rightful place in the daily education and interaction of Earthlings. My dream event before that one (to respect the question) would be to have everyone join or start a weekly African history study group and the annual event if one is necessary could be more like an anniversary celebration of those community study groups, rather than just another day where we’re asking someone to do something that we don’t ask them to do any other day. Our holidays ought to be celebrations of what we’ve done the rest of the days.

5. Name one website that you would recommend to someone with an interest in black culture or black history (other than your own, of course!).

My dad’s friend Benjamin Mchie started a website called The African American Registry that I think is a great educational and reminder tool for all of us, especially kids and our educational institutions. I think the logical and eventual direction of this site (or the idea at the root of this site if Mr. Mchie doesn’t live to see the evolution) will be an African history registry and eventually the day when the Wikipedias (the so-called registries of history on the web) of the universe have a correct representation of African history.

6. What do you think of BHM and the decision by Voice Of Africa Radio to opt out of the celebrations?

It’s their well-intentioned right to act in a manner that, to them, advances the cause of Africana studies. Like I said, I think this is a marketing tool for African history, whether that was their intention or not. The beauty of change is that everything and everyone contributes to it whether we want to or not, and if you try and withhold your contribution you sometimes end up making a greater one. This so-called boycott can only help further the evolution of the Black History Week tradition. If you are able to incorporate African history into your daily or weekly personal and communal routine then when Black History Month rolls around you’ll already be celebrating it! Ashe.

[Many apologies to Brian for the misspelling of his name - it was an oversight that has now been corrected, sorry about that]

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.

Find me online at www.paulboakye.net
Connect with me at LinkedIn

Continuing our Black History Month series, here is the second of our email interviews. Today, we have the thoughts of businessman and professional speaker, David McQueen…

1. Can you please explain who you are and summarise your perspective of the aims and purpose of BHM?

My name is David McQueen and I am a businessman and professional speaker. For me the aims and purpose of BHM is to highlight the contributions to British society of people of Afro Caribbean descent.

2. Which black personality has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

Well outside of my Dad (who is a personality in our family!) it would be between Frantz Fanon and CLR James. I perceive them both as two of the most radical and empowering activists in 20th Century history.

3. 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!

To be honest I don’t have one. I just think that a greater awareness of all the events that take place is sufficient.

4. Name one website that you would recommend to someone with an interest in black culture or black history (other than your own, of course!).

BlackHistoryMonth.co.uk

6. Although the influence of black culture on the modern music industry is obvious to most people, the same can not necessarily be said across other areas in the arts and culture umbrella. Why do you think this is and what how would you remedy this situation?

In all honesty we still have to realize we are a but a minority, and the powers that be still hold the influence. Although we are making more headway in this area.

Thank you David. To read more interviews and ArtsWom’s coverage of other happenings during Black History Month, peruse our archives by following this link…

October in the UK is Black History Month and ArtsWom wanted to do something to raise awareness of this fact. Rather than simply write article after article of our own views and opinions, we thought it would be far more interesting to ask bloggers who appear to have an interest in black history or culture what they think. Over the month, we will be posting the replies to our questions. First up, Mark from Urban Review…

1. Can you please explain who you are and summarise your perspective of the aims and purpose of BHM?

My name is Mark Shipton, I am from the UK & run a music based site called Urbanreview.co.uk, I have always had a love for music & I was always telling my friends about different tracks without much reaction, so one day I thought I would find some people who might enjoy my opinionated personality. To my great surprise, people were interested & my site continues to grow, with music fans from around the world.

While I am hardly the best person to comment on Black History, my life has certainly been hugely influenced by Black Culture, since a very young age I have enjoyed modern black music, even before I could recognize it as being “Black”. I love urban music. I would estimate that 80 - 90% of my music collection was performed, produced or written by someone of the black community.

My personal view on the purposes of BHM are that this year it is almost 100% focused on gun & knife crime in the UK, I think this is unfair, as not all violent crime is committed by black people, just as not all crime is committed by the young. I think this may have a negative effect in associating Knives & Guns with the black community but it obviously is a good aim, as educating about the causes & consequences of crime can only be positive.

I think that BHM should be to remember Black icons of the past, Martin L-K being the most obvious, but also icons of modern life, such as the music industry greats; Jay-Z & Kanye West spring to mind as two of the most globally recognizable Black celebrities of modern time, both of which are positive role models in my eyes.

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?

BHM should always continue as it can be used as a tool to communicate & inform the Black community of not only the past, but issues that face them today, such as this years theme of Gun & Knife culture.

I also think that it should remember the origins of the modern day Black man & woman, the slave trade, origins on Africa & the integration into modern western society. I think that the UK still has a long way to go to fully accept Black people into every aspect of life, racism is still an issue that faces Black people today, it should be used as a tool to unite people of all back grounds. I also think that as the Black population of Britain grows, there is also an element of racism towards white people form black people, I think that this may form from anger or as a way f revenge, but this issue also needs to be addressed & not ignored.

3. Which black personality has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

The Black personality that has most influenced my life has been Hip-Hop producer “Timbaland”, I belive that he is a musical genius, he is the greatest producer that the music scene has ever known & has influence my love of music 100%. As a child, I was listening to Timbaland’s production without even knowing it was him, only as I grew older & more interested in Tim did I realise the tracks he produced & was like; “I loved that song when I was little”.

My dream one day would be to be a part of the music industry & be as big a Tim, I would love to meet him & just watch him work, he has literally molded my life & I follow his work at every step.

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’ to celebrate black history month would be to form a ‘Super Group’ of all the best black music artists from the UK, i.e. Beverley Knight, Lemar, Taio Cruiz, Knao etc to produce an album of covers. Covering songs from previous black artists, i.e. Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder etc. I think this would be great to hear their spin on the tracks & would summon national coverage to raise awareness of the issues & aims of BHM.

I think that the entire project could be presented in a concert that would be televised by MTV for example, this would culminate the efforts well & simple produce something that was entertaining.

5. Name one website that you would recommend to someone with an interest in black culture or black history (other than your own, of course!).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/

I have chosen the BBCs 1Xtra website, I think that this is a good place to start if you wanted to catch up with modern black music & culture.

6. The influence of black music on the modern industry is obvious. What three key artists have been instrumental in orchestrating this state of affairs?

The 3 artist that I think have had a major effect on the modern music scene are as follows:

Jay Z - The founder of modern Hip-Hop, before Jay-Z, Hip-Hop was more of an underground scene, he brought it to the masses.

Stevie Wonder - I think Stevie is one of the greatest singers of all time, he just simply makes music you want to listen to, most of his hits were created before I was born, & yet I still love to listen to them. He is the most one of the most respected faces of Black music in the US & UK.

Timbaland - I am very Biased towards this man, but I have chosen him anyway. Although not quite a house hold name, he is always 100 steps ahead of modern music, producers are just making beats now, that he was making in the late 90s. You might not know it, but I can almost guarantee, Tim has produced one of your favorite tracks of the last 10 years. Genius!

For further resources for Black History Month, please read here

For thirty years the achievements of the black community have been celebrated in the UK by dedicating the month of October to highlight the impact black history and culture has had on our society. This year, the month is even more important as 2007 marks the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery.

For your resource on everything BHM-related, we recommend you visit www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk which is your one-stop shop for news on all activities and events taking place across the country. For our part, we will attempt to keep up to date with the online chatter from the people who have attended these events and try to point you in the direction of all manner of stimulating articles, artists and assorted miscellany.

We will also be devoting some time to focus on the programmes Sky Arts are airing to mark the occasion, which are being led by two UK TV premieres: The Gospel According to Al Green which shows the soul singer in conversation and performance and Black Wax: Gil Scott-Heron which is a profile of the poet, jazzman and black activist. The blog From Da Bricks was able to preview this documentary and arranged an interview with the director – follow this link to read the article.

Sky Arts are also offering a ‘Brief History of Black Music’ courtesy of the Sky Arts Music Service providing a selection of tracks you can listen to online. Get finger-clicking happy on this link to find out more.