Black History Month
The Message
by Rob Smith

I was made aware we were in the midst of Black History Month by the man who arrived at our office smartly dressed, well-educated and with a lot on his mind. Introducing himself he handed out an article urging us to read and contemplate placing it inside this month’s edition. Conversations within the community had spurred this man to write Black School Exclusion a Professional Perspective (next page).

October was officially Black History Month, celebrated in America and across the UK. I have tried to find what’s going on in Burngreave to mark this occasion.

Stand Up And Be Counted

On October 18th SADACCA Study Support and Women’s Group (Creative Voices) played host to an evening of music and words – this was in conjunction with the Off The Shelf week, a Sheffield initiative. Around sixty people attended this event and children of the study support group wrote and read out their poetry. “We also read other poets’ work, flavoured with folk music from the black women’s group,” explained Carmelita Duncan, adding that although a lot of work went into the promotion and advertisement, the participation could have been a lot better.

Visiting another event at our local library I met two other women unhappy with the poor turn out. “A lot of black people can write but lack the confidence to present it. We do so much work, but bringing people to the table is the problem.” said one woman. “I am really shocked at the lack of interest and attempts to create bigger things to celebrate Black History Month in Sheffield and Burngreave,” said another. “It’s not only lack of interest from the mainstream but also ourselves as black people.”

Black History Month

Aware that, in America, Black History Month is a recognized celebration, Mayor Ken Livingston made sure London schools and communities took an active part in this celebration. In contrast, The Star’s October 25th headline “Smirking Killer”, raises concerns for me of the detrimental effect these images have and the lack of positive role models portraying a true representation of us as Black people here.

Mark Your Diary

If our great ancestors could see the apathy that has allowed self interest and manipulation of the system by those among us who wish to feather their own nest, they would be ashamed. We need to face the real issues; we are tainted with a mentality attached to the legacy of slavery and first-hand racial oppression.

Black People on the Move

This is our legacy but many of us want to move on and will meet for one hour at Verdon Street Recreation on 27th November. By gathering we hope to cement a foundation that can help our generation move forward positively.

It’s imperative things change and for this to happen we must take every opportunity to push that change. Whatever the outcome it would be a hopeful beginning that can create meaning, pride and worth in us as a generation, in order to help save the next, in order to help save what pride is left in black people.