Black History Month is an amazing but short amount of time to celebrate and highlight all great things from black culture, from the rich but hidden history to the far-reaching influential culture. I’m here to suggest some podcasts and books to educate yourself on black history.
Because I’m writing for a largely UK audience in mind, the recommendations will largely include black British history which, unlike African-American history, remains untouched.
Books
I would recommend the historian David Olusuga’s Black and British books for their comprehensive look at black history and black people in the UK; it’s an overwhelming account of our contributions to Britain dating back to even the Romans. Another book written by David Olusuga I recommend is The World’s War: Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire. This brilliant book uncovers the unknown contributions of black soldiers crucial for the British empire’s war effort.
Next I’d recommend Akala’s Natives which is a great account of ignored contributions to Britain and how the UK still undermines our efforts. Another recommendation I have is Jeffrey Boakye’s Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored, which offers a great history and analysis of Black British culture making it a must read. The final recommendation I have is Johnny Pits’ Afropean: Notes from Black Europe, which gives an insight into the African diaspora all over Europe, from Sheffield to Lisbon.
Podcasts
I’d recommend two podcasts, first the History of Africa gives a great view of the many events which shaped Africa, not just colonialism and slavery. I’d also recommend If You Don’t Know which is a BBC Podcast which explores all sorts of topics in black history and culture from a contemporary lens.
Now you might ask yourself, “Why is it important to educate myself and others on black history on this fine October?” Well, I’d argue it’s important all year round.
But that aside, we need to shift the narrative that the only history we have is of the pain and suffering of slavery and colonialism. It’s important to recognise the rich culture and achievements of black people before and after European intervention. Many anecdotes and studies show that knowing one’s roots is hugely beneficial to happiness, and self-esteem.
It’s important to recognise the ignored and buried contributions of Black people that have been undermined by stereotypes and racist myths.
