Black History Month
October has been a month of celebration, reflection and learning as Birmingham marked Black History Month 2025.
This year’s theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, highlights leadership, resilience and the strength to create positive change.
The month is always a great opportunity to learn more about Black History, but also how we can impact change going forwards.
What is still to come…
Whilst the month may be winding down, there is still plenty for you to get involved in around the Birmingham area.
🎤 Live recording of the Compassionate Cultures Podcast 🎤
🗓️ 31/10/2025, 5pm – 8pm 🗓️
On 31st October, the Compassionate Cultures Podcast will be hosting a special live recording celebrating Antiracist Healthcare in Birmingham.
Hosted by Strawberry Word’s director Rebecca Hemmings, the celebratory discussion will bring together leading African and Caribbean voices from public health, community organisations, and the NHS to explore how compassion, cultural humility, and collaboration are transforming mental health, wellbeing and antiracist education across the city.
The event will be held at NatWest Accelerator Hub, 2 St Phillip’s PI, Birmingham, B3 2RB. It will be from 5pm – 8pm, and refreshments will be included.
An exciting opportunity to learn about some of the people working towards anti-racist change in our communities, the event is free of charge and available by clicking below.
Black History Weekend Celebration 🛍️
🗓️ 31/10/2025 – 02/11/2025 🗓️
Friday 31st October also marks the start of The Black History Weekend Celebration at Tesco Superstore on Camden Street, Hockley.
The three-day event finishes on Sunday 2nd November, and will include a variety of stalls offering unique, handcrafted items, delicious local cuisines, Nubian greeting cards and plenty of inspiring art which reflects the diverse cultures within the community.
Celebrating culture, community, and creativity, this event typifies the spirit of Black History Month.
📚 The Forgotten Generation – ‘Lest we Forget’ Exhibition 📚
🗓️ 27/09/2025 – 12/12/2025 🗓️
Continuing at Library of Birmingham, meanwhile, is an enlightening exhibition celebrating the contributions made by African and Caribbean service personnel in the Royal Air Force based in the West Midlands.
‘The Forgotten Generation: Lest we Forget’ has been running since 27th September and will continue to 12 December.
It is an excellent reminder of the contributions of Black Veterans from the West Midlands since the Second World War.
🎤 David Olusogo in Conversation with Kwame Kwei-Armah 🎤
Historian David Olusoga recently appeared on the hit show Celebrity Traitors, but he’ll be ditching the round table for a more informed discussion on 17th November at Warwick Arts Centre.
He’ll be joined by Kwame Kwei-Armah to discuss the 60th anniversary of Britain’s First Race Relations Act, how our society has evolved from then, and where we find ourselves today.
The talk will be on 17th November at 8pm at Warwick Arts Centre, and guests are able to book below.
Looking Ahead
As Black History Month draws to a close, its message of unity, learning and progress remains vital all year round.
At Forward Carers, we recognise that Black and ethnic minority Carers often face unique barriers to support — whether financial, emotional or systemic. Research from Carers UK shows that 21% of BAME Carers provide over 50 hours of care each week, compared with 10 % of White Carers. This highlights the need for culturally aware, accessible support.
Through our partnerships, we’re working to make a difference — ensuring that every Carer, whatever their background, feels recognised, supported, and valued.
What we’re Doing
We run various activities focussed on supporting carers from all backgrounds and cultures, but we also appreciate sometimes it’s easier to share your experiences with people who’ve shared similar experiences.
One example of this is the Birmingham Black Carers Support Group, led by Sylvia Thompson, which meets on the first Monday of every month.
The group provides a safe and welcoming space for Carers from African and Caribbean backgrounds to share their experiences, access peer support, and connect with others who understand the challenges and rewards of caring within their cultural context.
If you’d like to find out more or join the next session, or any of the other support and activities we offer, visit https://birminghamcarershub.org.uk/whats-on/.
As we approach the final stages of Black History Month, let’s remember the past, and build for the future.
Together we can stand firm in power and pride, not just this October, but always.
