As October draws to a close, we’re looking at the actions we can take beyond Black History Month to recognise the events and people who have shaped our society, as well as cultivate a culture of belonging we all want to be a part of.
Last week, our REACH network highlighted some incredible films and TV shows to broaden your knowledge of Black history and culture. Today, we’re focusing on books and podcasts, our final set of historical trailblazers and some actions you can take as an ally.
Read books written by Black authors
Fiction
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
One of the BBC’s ‘100 Novels That Shaped Our World’ and worldwide bestseller, this is the compelling story of one man’s battle to protect his community against the forces of change.
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
If Beale Street Could Talk is a moving story of love in the face of injustice, told through the eyes of Tish, a nineteen-year-old girl.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Winner of the Booker Price 2019, Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
A tender and emotionally complex debut about the relationship between two young Black British artists, Open Water shines a light on the ways love and race can be interlinked in modern society.
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
The unforgettable story of a marriage as seen through the eyes of both husband and wife, Stay With Me asks how much we can sacrifice for the sake of family.
Non fiction
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
#1 Sunday Times Bestseller, exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race.
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
David Olusoga tells the rich and revealing story of the long relationship between the British Isles and the people of Africa and the Caribbean.
Natives by Akala
From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers – race and class have shaped Akala’s life and outlook.
Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch
You’re British. Your parents are British. Your partner, your children and most of your friends are British. So why do people keep asking where you’re from?
Immerse yourself in a new podcast
The History Hotline
A space to have honest conversations about Black history and how it impacts the world we live in.
Say Your Mind
Award winning podcast by Kelechi Okafo, a British Nigerian actress.
Receipts Podcast
Co-hosted by Audrey Indome and Tolani Shoneye, the British trio are known for their unfiltered conversations on a wide range of subjects.
Under the Arch
Hosts Blake Strode and Kayla Reed explore the issues facing their community and the people working to transform them..
The Black Curriculum
Julie Adenuga and special guests deep dive into the musical history of Black Britain.
The Michelle Obama Podcast
Michelle Obama dives deep into conversations with family, friends, and colleagues to share tools for living in today’s world.
Deepen your understanding of Black history
Throughout the month, our REACH network have been showcasing amazing trailblazers who don’t often make the history books. Take a look at our next set:
Alan Emtage
Emtage created the world’s first internet search engine. He says he has no regrets about choosing not to patent the invention.
Courtney Pine
In the 80’s, Pine was one of the first black British jazz artists to make a mark on the jazz scene
Mae Jemison
Jemison became the first black woman to join NASA’s astronaut training programme in 1987.
Wangari Maathai
Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sir Trevor McDonald
McDonald is arguably the most recognisable news presenter in British broadcasting history with a career spanning nearly sixty years.
Audre Lorde
Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, feminist, mother, poet, warrior,” dedicated her life and talents to confronting all forms of injustice.
Toni Morrison
Morrison was the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
Dame Jocelyn Barrow
Barrow helped to pave the way for the 1965 Race Relations Act, which made racial discrimination illegal in Britain.
Shirley Chisholm
Chisholm was the first Black woman in Congress and the first Black woman of a major party to run for presidential nomination in the USA.
Lilian Bader
Bader joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1941, becoming one of the first Black women to do so. Despite discrimination and prejudice, Bader excelled and was awarded an MBE.
Gerald Wilson
Wilson is recognised as one of the greatest composers, arrangers and band leaders in modern jazz.
Claudette Colvin
In 1955, Colvin, as a teenager, refused to give up her seat to a white person. She became one of four plaintiffs in a case which ruled that the segregated bus system was unconstitutional.
Be an ally, every day
At Carnival UK, we focus on allyship as an action, rather than a label and how you can listen, learn and advocate for others so we can all feel a sense of belonging. Click here to find out three simple actions you can take to learn more and click here to learn more about how we can tackle subtle acts of exclusion.