Black History Month UK magazine is launching a new campaign to mark Black History Month 2021 in October. Inspired by the 2020 Black Lives Matter events, the new campaign is called ‘Proud To Be’. It will invite Black and Brown people of all ages throughout the UK to share what they are proud to be. For example, Proud To Be Black, Proud To Be Brown, Proud To Be Black & LGBTQ+, Proud To Be Me.
The campaign will launch in September in the run up to Black History Month in October and people will be able to get involved via Black History Month UK’s magazine, website and social media. People will be able to share what they are Proud To Be via letter, email or social media, including video and audio clips.
Black History Month UK are also inviting well-known celebrities and public figures to get involved and share what they are Proud To Be – as a way of inspiring as many people as possible to get involved and take part.
The campaign aims to make Black History Month 2021 personal and unique to individuals, families and communities, focusing on how we’re all making history all the time in our own ways, as well as the contributions and achievements of Black people throughout history.
A festival of celebration
Catherine Ross, Editor at Black History Month UK, explained why they are launching the campaign: “It’s been a challenging time for many Black and Brown people, with so much in the media about racism, inequality and injustice. We wanted the theme of Black History Month 2021 to focus on celebrating being Black or Brown, and to inspire and share the pride people have in their heritage and culture – in their own way, in their own words.
“By asking people to share what they are Proud To Be we can share both individual stories and the vast richness of diversity that Black and Brown people bring to the UK.
“Black Lives Matter means people being able to live life to the fullest without having to compromise who they are. Everyone deserves the right to be Proud To Be everything they are
and want to be in life.”
The Proud To Be campaign will also focus on encouraging children and young people to share what they are Proud To Be.
Black History Month UK has created a new resource pack for schools to integrate Black history across the whole curriculum all year round, celebrate Black History Month 2021, and
support teachers and young people to talk about and understand issues of race and equality in a post-2020 world. The pack also includes ‘Proud To Be’ sheets for students to fill in and share what they are proud of.
The pack has been created in partnership with Museumand, The National Caribbean Heritage Museum and Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln – supported by 30 Secondary PGCE
trainee teachers studying at Bishop Grosseteste University. The Proud To Be campaign will be launched by Black History Month UK in September with full details of how people can get involved and what’s in store for Black History Month in October.
People are welcome to share their stories, experiences and what they are proud of via letter, email or social media, including video and audio clips.
Email us at Catherine@blackhistorymonth.org.uk
Telephone us on: 0203 8838440