October is designated as Black History Month in the UK. This is normally a combination of events accessible to all but led by black people, specifically highlighting their historical and present day achievements and issues.

However this year’s launch event, featuring mainly white contributors, has led to a storm of protest on social media

No one knows how or why the month of October was chosen to highlight black history, especially as with many black people in England originating from the Caribbean, it would have made more sense to designate August as BHM due to there being a large amount of Independence and Emancipation (from slavery and colonial rule) celebrations across the islands at this time.

October is also one of the busiest times in the UK calendar featuring a month long prominent UK Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and also in Birmingham where our story originates, the established and very popular Birmingham Literature Festival, this year featuring US Poet and former Laureate Rita Dove.

Every year BHM is launched at the Drum Arts Center. This is a publicly funded organization originally created to be focused on black arts but now covering a much broader base. This year’s theme was ‘The Drum Black History Month Launch Race 50: 50 years since Malcolm X’s Visit (to the area) and the Race Relations Act.’

During the event which consisted of songs and speeches, the performances for the majority black audience consisted of an all-white jazz band, a black and white singing duo and a white rapper.

Many people walked out during the proceedings with some wondering if they’d somehow attended the wrong event which has since been described as a disgrace and an insult. The organisers have now been told by angry black people to ‘fix-up and do better!’

In the days following the shambles Facebook has been ablaze with concerned black locals searching for a positive way forward. Many have noted how black events in Birmingham which are sponsored by the City Council frequently feature performers from other races, but this is not reciprocated. For example during the many Indian, Pakistani or European festivals, black artistes are not invited to take part.

The first Black History Month in Birmingham was held in the mid 1990’s. The pre-launch event consisted of a panel of black, white and Indian members pushing the agenda of inclusion which basically means growing exclusion for black people as shown at this year’s event.

Opinions about how to create change are presently divided with some suggesting demonstrating at any of the coming BHM events which do not feature black people and others suggesting a clear boycott, while some think a social media protest campaign would be most effective. There are others who firmly believe that it’s time to build and support their own instead of being dependent on a system which does not have their best interests at heart.

Judging from recent Facebook posts where the conversation is still continuing, it is clear that black people in Birmingham, England have had enough of overt disrespect from a system which purports taxation without representation.