Black History Month At ACH

Shukri Ahmed is a My Coventry tutor and shares why this Black History Month aligns with the history, values and principles of ACH, a social enterprise.

“Black History Month is an incredibly important month to me. Especially having studied History at university, the study of black British history is vital in understanding how citizenship, race, and ideas of nationhood in Britain have evolved throughout the 20th century and forms the foundation of citizenship and race today. How as a disenfranchised group, black Britons craved out their rights and their relationship with the state through radical movements and political organising and articulated a new understanding of citizenship based on race and shaped the trajectory of race politics in post-war Britain.  Movements such as the Black Liberation Movement and Black Power movement in the 1960s, the black feminist organisations such as OWAAD of the 1970s and 1980s, and the race riots of 1958 are the fabric of radical history in Britain and at the centre of my politics and perspective.

It’s a great fortune to work at a social enterprise like ACH and to be able to work in an industry that values community and supporting refugees and migrants. Working at a social enterprise aligns with my politics of supporting people that make up our local community and are foundational and integral to the social landscape of Coventry. Providing opportunities of support and education has been incredibly fulfilling for me and inspiring.

I believe it’s more than important, but essential even. At the very core of Black British history is community organising, communal support, youth centres, articulating a politics that centres education and providing what has been denied to disenfranchised and ethnic minority groups, working with and against the state to improve the lives of these groups and ascertain their rights. To be in an organisation that works with refugees and migrants, who are predominately ethnic minorities, providing them with support, housing, and educational and employability opportunities means to be in tune with the racial history of Britain and how citizenship and race politics operate here. What ACH stands for can be traced back to a long lineage of black radical activism of the 20th century that fought for better housing conditions, educational opportunities and so much more for those disenfranchised and discriminated against organisations. Moreover, It is important for ACH to celebrate Black History Month so that it can look back the history of anti-racism in Britain and understand it’s core components, and therefore integrate it into its organisation and approach to supporting refugees and migrants”.

Brenda Wangari is a careers and enterprise officer at the Birmingham office that emphasises that Black History Month and its significance should be celebrated all year round:

“It is a time of reflection, owning and being authentic to my roots. Although black history cannot be contained to a single month but should be celebrated all year round.  It is a month where we celebrate the pioneers and leaders within the black community. Those who have paved the way and created a positive impact on our communities, organisations and cities.

Honouring the legacy of how far we have come, how much we need to do and being positive about what we can achieve for future generations”.

Anita Appiah is a finance volunteer who shares her thoughts on her first experience of celebrating Black History Month:

“Black History is when African people are celebrated for their contributions in the diaspora as well as all black people from around the world and in all points in history.

I am a black African and this is my first experience in celebrating Black History Month. Today I celebrate myself for how far I have come, and I always look back and say I am bold, black and beautiful because I know tomorrow, I will be able to achieve more than I have today.

ACH creates opportunities for individuals to lead independent and ambitious lives and working in a social enterprise gives people hope and encourages them to live a sustainable life”.

ACH continues and will continue to take action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure Black history is represented and celebrated all year round, in line with ACH’s ethos and principles.