Black History Month provides a moment of reflection for people as well as a reminder to educate. BHM is an internationally recognised celebration of Black history and culture. By honouring the struggles faced by Black people as a whole, the month strives to be a reminder of equality and inclusion. First coined by US Historian Carter G Woodson in 1926, Black History Month has since become integral to countries all over the world.
How to celebrate BHM in the UK this year
The coronavirus pandemic means not many events will be going ahead this year.
A number of online events and exhibitions will be taking place, however, and can be found here.
This year’s BHM theme is African Americans and the vote, which couldn’t be more important in light of the upcoming US Presidential election on November 3.
One good way of celebrating BHM is by donating and raising money for good causes.
READ MORE: Black History Month: What is the Black history theme for 2020?
Royal Mail has painted four red postboxes black in honour of black Britons for BHM.
The postboxes are located in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast and are Royal Mail’s way of commemorating the special event.
Each of the special edition boxes are now black with a gold trim and feature a significant figure in the Black British community.
A QR Code on the postboxes can be scanned to bring up a list of all the Black Brits who have appeared on special stamps across the years.
Royal Mail’s head of diversity and inclusion Peter De Norville said Black History Month is “a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions that Black people have made to this country over generations”.
Mr De Norville added: “We are also using it as an opportunity to celebrate vital work that our Black employees do throughout the nation, from the mail bag to the meeting room.”
Celebrity and co-founder of the Comic Relief charity, Sir Lenny Henry, has been honoured on Belfast’s postbox.
Mary Seacole, who nursed wounded British soldiers back to health during the Crimean War, features on a Cardiff post-box.
