Do We Still Need Black History Month?

By Samantha Stimpson (Founder & CEO: SLS 360)

Photo Credit: Loughborough University

Every year, as October comes to a close, I hear the same questions: “Do we still need Black History Month?” or worse, “Why isn’t there a White History Month?”

Why We Still Need Black History Month

Let’s start with the obvious. We still need Black History Month because the history we’ve all been taught has never been neutral. It has centred white narratives, white leaders, white inventors, and white achievements. The contributions of Black people in the UK and across the world have too often been erased, minimised, or treated as a footnote.

When someone says, “Why don’t we have White History Month?” the simple answer is: we already do. Every history book, every curriculum, every statue in our city squares has centred white stories. The playing field has never been level.

One anti-racism author notes, "We've made white history just 'history,' white literature just 'literature,' white art just 'art,'" indicating that white culture is often treated as the universal standard. It's pointed out that history education predominantly features white figures, leading to the perception that "every day is white history month". 

The purpose of heritage months therefore for minoritised groups, such as Black or Asian history months, is to recognise histories that have been underrepresented or suppressed, which is not the case for white history.

Black History Month Still Matters

So yes, Black History Month matters. It is still necessary  because until our collective histories are told honestly, completely, and inclusively, we need space carved out to amplify the stories that would otherwise go unheard.

But we also have to be careful. Black History Month can’t just be about putting up posters or spotlighting the same five historical figures every year. True recognition means weaving Black history and Black futures into the everyday, not confining them to October.

So let’s keep Black History Month. But let’s also use it as a springboard and a reminder that inclusion isn’t seasonal. It’s a practice that should live in our classrooms, our boardrooms, and our communities all year round.

What we’re doing at SLS 360

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