‘Working to celebrate achievements that may have gone unnoticed’
BLACK History Month promises a month of celebration and recognition for those that often go unnoticed in Derby’s community.
Events across the county will help bring together the population and highlight the issues and achievements of Derby’s Black community.
Cecile Wright, the chair of Derby Black Lives Matter, has helped organise a number of this year’s events. They have been created in collaboration with a number of organisations across Derbyshire and will help to recognise Derby’s Black community and those whose achievements may have gone unnoticed.
She said: “The Black
Lives Matter protests having
engendered a commitment among many individuals and organisations to educate themselves about Black history, heritage and culture as part of understanding racism and standing in solidarity against it. One year
later, has anything changed for the better?
“Within Derby, Black local grassroots organisers through the Black Lives Matter manifesto for Derby have acted as key players in a movement for social change and have got on board the local council and many state, faith and voluntary
organisations. Little by little progress is being made.”
Cecile said that the events across course of the month aim to highlight Black-owned businesses and historical importance of Black culture across the county and country.
She added: “We’re putting together a programme that may extend into November, some of which is still in the planning stages.
“There is an event at Derby museums – African objects and restitution – which will be a discussion on when items will be, or if they should be, returned.
“We also have an event with Derby College that will involve college students, local communities, and I think we’re also planning to put together a Black history bus at the end of October or in November. The overall theme of this is in Black History season, we’re working in collaboration with a number of services and organisations to actually recognise the season.
“We’re working with the local museum, faith community and trade unions to celebrate what we have to offer.”