“WITH racism, bigotry and mass European migration into the UK, it is imperative we embrace and celebrate all cultures and their historic contributions, which has made Great Britain, great”.

This statement is not emblazoned under each Black History Month Colchester logo, but in the minds of all who are involved in planning the annual celebration, the sentiment is strong.

It is impossible to ignore the insidious racial tensions spilling into our neighbourhoods, but also the xenophobia political figures and rhetoric have given strength to.

A fear of “the other” has always existed quietly, but more groups of people are feeling alienated and unsettled than ever before.

Lawrence Walker, chairman of Black History Month Colchester, now has a greater responsibility on his shoulders.

He is an integral part of a big shift in how the event is perceived by both the BAME (black and minority-ethnic) community and white people, but also how it is being repurposed to help mend a broken society.

The 64-year-old said: “Racial harmony cannot exist without understanding.

“BAME is an inclusive concept that brings together a large variety of different groups of people. People who are experiencing similar, if not the same types of discrimination and injustices that Black History Month continues to address.

“October looks at the forgotten history of black people in the history that we’re taught and what we find is, they weren’t just African people. People have been surprisingly awakened when they’ve looked into their family tree and discovered their true identity.

“Greater awareness and interaction with African and Caribbean life is even more important if we’re to make any progress towards eliminating racist behaviour from our society.”

Thirteen years ago Colchester held its first BHM, under the leadership of founding members of TACMEP.

Gazette:

Lenore Sykes from Trinidad helped found the annual event after encountering racism when she moved to the UK

The vibrant programme of cultural events were bound to end up here given London had held its first celebration in 1987, making this year the 30th anniversary.

African and Caribbean people were also steadily migrating to the historically white town in enough numbers to make it viable and necessary.

Lawrence moved from Virginia in the US in the early Eighties with the Armed Forces, and has lived in East Anglia most of the time.

Neighbouring West Virginia was one of the first states whose Departments of Education observed Negro History Week during February 1926.

Historian Carter G Woodson founded this precursor to the 1976 Black History Month as a vehicle for black American history to be featured on the public school curriculum.

Similar campaigns are still ongoing in the UK.

However, Lawrence has made a concerted effort for October to be steeped in the nuanced black British experience because black history goes much deeper than the transatlantic slave trade.

He said: “Even before June 1948 when the Windrush discharged its passengers at Tilbury, which has become an important landmark in the history of modern Britain, most people aren’t aware black people were in the British Isles for centuries.

“In 2012, archaeologists examined skeletons found during the nineteenth century. Analysis revealed one skeleton belonging to a woman of sub-Saharan African descent from around 125 AD.

“She had lived in England most of, if not all of her life, and held a relatively high position in Roman society. As the first black Briton known to us, she confirms the African presence in Britain stretches back to the second and third centuries.”

Gazette:

A younger Lawrence showcasing his art at the 2010 BHM event

Officially BHM Colchester launches on Saturday at Firstsite with a family-friendly day hosted by AFiUK (African Families in the UK).

The Origins of Black Music live show follows on Sunday, at Colchester Arts Centre, featuring Afrobeats and Dancehall artist RUDEBONE, local artists WLY, DJ Mixed Dreams and street dancer Isaac James.

Simultaneously Essex University’s African and Caribbean Society and the Students’ Union has its own unique programme, which has already begun.

Despite calls from celebrities in the black entertainment industry to abandon Black History Month, Lawrence feels the celebration is crucial in today’s diverse world.

He said: “We need a Black History Month in order to help us to arrive at an understanding of ourselves as being British in the most accurate and complete socio-historical context we can produce.

"As a nation with such diversity, all histories need to be known and all voices need to be expressed. Black history provides the binary opposite to all traditional histories.

“One needs traditional history to engender a common culture and one needs black history to engender a clearer and more complete culture.

“We want to invite everyone who wants to be a part of our celebrations of culture and heritage to get involved.”

The committee also thanked Colchester Borough Homes, deputy council leader Tim Young, the East of England Co-Op, the Trade Union and MAIL BOX for their support in this year’s activities.

If you would like to share, display, perform, or volunteer on the committee, get in touch with the team on Facebook by clicking here.