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Black History Month 2007

This month we celebrate black history month with a host of events around Tooting and across London. I’ve been inspired by a number of exhibitions, performances and lectures so far but if you’re not sure where to start have a look at http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/bhm/index.jsp where you can find a link to the official Mayor of London brochure cataloguing what will be going on in the capital.

2007 is a particularly special year for Black History Month as it marks the 20th Anniversary of our celebrating the event. Furthermore, with issues like integration and social cohesion firmly at the centre of the political stage, the history of different British ethnic groups takes on particular importance.

This year many local people took part in the campaign to Save Wandsworth Museum. Our Museum plays an integral part in reminding us all of our local heritage and giving local young people of all backgrounds a sense of belonging. It is a huge shame that the Council was unwilling to play a bigger role in supporting our Museum. It is now more important than ever that our national culture reflects and incorporates the history and culture of all groups in Britain today. If ‘popular’ history just consists of Tudors, Stewarts and the industrial revolution (important though they are) many ethnic minority groups may understandably feel isolated and disengaged from the mainstream, for where is their story represented in this supposedly common narrative? Britain has a rich and diverse history stretching back more than 1000 years. Celebrating our various histories is a good way of acknowledging the diversity of Britain today and in helping people to place themselves within the national story.

Modern identities are of course shaped in no small measure by history, so exploring and celebrating black history also helps people to find out about themselves and strengthen their sense of who they are. Just as importantly, a public celebration like Black History Month helps to make that knowledge accessible to other people and invites them to explore it. This is crucial to social cohesion.  It is very hard for people from different backgrounds to integrate unless they have some sense of where each other is coming from and this means learning about each others’ cultures and histories.
 

So apart from being educational, interesting and fun, I think Black History Month plays a really important role. If you want to know more take a look at http://www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk/ and make the most of the rest of the month!

Sadiq Khan MP

written October 2007

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