Black History Month is for life, not just now

This comment article is written by Roger Griffith, chair of Ujima Radio in St Paul’s

Yes I plagiarised the headline. Sue me Santa. However, unlike Santa Claus, I don’t have a red suit to pack away and my fellow colleagues are not certainly putting away their knowledge and skills.

Black History Month (BHM) October 2014 has ended and it has been another showcase of great culture which included films, gallery-showings, book readings, debates, talks and meeting inspiring figures.

Many have been encouraged to see new artists showcase their talent (Michelle Curtis, Iconic Black Bristolians art exhibition) or inspired by Dr Paul Stephenson’s words of wisdom on race and Bristol’s future (RISE event at Paintworks) or took the opportunity to engage and inspire with our young people at the Ask About Me Event by Poku Osei (Babassa Youth Empowerment Projects).

Even though many people hold a view that black history should not be confined to one month they still participated and shared their stories.   

I strongly take the view from the creator of BHM, African-American Carter G Woodson who discovered through academic research that black people’s contributions “were overlooked, ignored and even suppressed by the writers of history books and the teachers who use them”.

His words and valuing education throughout life were to inspire Malcolm X as he contemplated his future in prison before his conversion to Islam. More than 100 years later his legacy remains on both sides of the Atlantic with BHM and we now ask, is his research still valid in 2014?

A look at back at my October diary, shows that the BHM events I attended were varied and diverse. With events and titles such as RISE, Jamaica Rising, business advice workshops, Afro-Futurism at the Watershed, career open days, and tough issues discussing homophobia in the BAME communities shows that that these issues and subjects are not exclusive but a chance to share, understand, learn and be inspired.

From the inside looking out, as chair of Ujima Radio, it is one of the few chances we get to be not only the centre of attention, but tackle a long-running sore of neglect and ignorance of black culture and identity in its many forms.

On Ujima we reflected this in our programming from the light-hearted Rumble on the Radio music battles between our presenters to interviews with Chuck D of Public Enemy by Mistri, alongside features of iconic status all of the highest quality.

On my show I ran the Local Hero season with my guests Dr Edson Burton, Asher Craig, Chief Inspector Norman Pascal and Delroy Hibbert. Local should mean Bristol not just within the BAME communities but this is where community radio comes into its own by being able to share their stories alongside that of Martin Luther King, Mayou Angelou and Malcolm X whose inspiring autobiography has its 50th anniversary next year and will be part of a Bristol Festival of Ideas season.

My guests and other speakers at events deserve to be alongside the key power brokers, institutions and decision makers in the city region. They should not be reduced to one month in the spotlight and pigeon-holed to tackling race when they have areas of expertise in business, community development, and youth empowerment among many others.

As invaluable as BHM is, these events must be dispersed throughout the year. Rather than having a month shouting from the margins can we please get these diverse and divergent views and images into curriculums, programmes, institutions, events and media all year round.

Think I’ve got a chip on my shoulder? Well take a look as I was asked to do by RISE organiser Lynn Mareno live on air at the content of any local magazine or news item. How many black/brown faces or stories do you see when we have a 16% BAME population in Bristol? And please don’t tell me the stories aren’t out there; we have at least two community radio stations and countless smaller media outlets full of stories, issues and talent.

At least Bristol24/7 has recognised this by asking me to write this regular column and actively seeking stories from different communities as a start. What are the other arts, media establishments plus other organisations and businesses doing in this area?

BHM not only uncovers hidden and familiar stories from across the African Diaspora it is also a clarion call for unity. It has been a pleasure to share, listen, learn, taste, eat, drink, mix and mingle with so many different cultures and people.

I salute all the artists and collaborators who put on an event or did their special unique contribution to bring Bristol closer together with little or no financial return and largely ignored by the elite. Remember our story is partly your story, too. After all we are here because you were there!

Picture: Artist of Iconic Black Bristolians, Michelle Curtis, at St Agnes Lodge