black history month now

Lynne Featherstone
MP for Hornsey and Wood Green,
and Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State responsible for Equalities
and Criminal Information
Black History Month is here again -
another absolutely fantastic
opportunity to celebrate the rich and
varied contribution of black men and
women to our Borough and our
culture at large.
This year we focus on the
achievements and character of a
much loved and respected man -
Bernie Grant. In the ten years since
his death, Bernie’s legacy continues
to live on, and Black History Month
2010 allows us to reflect on
everything he achieved, and the
inspirational figure he was - and
continues to be - to a generation of
young black men and women.
The whole array of events on offer
this year - from the art to the theatre
to the workshops - provide an
astonishing array of different cultural,
historical and artistic experiences.
Black History Month is truly a jewel
in the Haringey calendar, and every
year it never fails to impress. I hope
you enjoy it as much as I will.
David Lammy MP
Member of Parliament for
Tottenham
It is an honour, once again, to
introduce Haringey’s Black History
Month Guide. This year sees the
10th anniversary of the sad and
premature death of Bernie Grant.
Bernie was an inspiration - he was
one of the first members of the
Black community to sit in
Parliament, smashing the glass
ceiling so that the next generation of
black men and women could.
One of the most remarkable aspects
of Bernie’s character was his ability
to understand the importance of
history and heritage in entrenching a
sense of identity. In an increasingly
materialistic world, obfuscated by
brand names and urban street
culture, it is easy to forget what
makes us special amongst an
increasingly diverse crowd of people.
He understood that if you don’t
know who you are, you can’t know
where you are going and it was his
campaigning and persistence that
brought us a Black History Month in
the UK with recognition across all
communities, not just the Black one.
Indeed, this month may turn out to
be one of Bernie’s most important
legacies. History is not just a
moment to acknowledge and reflect
on the sacrifices, struggles and
triumphs of our ancestors, but to
appreciate the lessons for the
struggles of the present and future.
The programme for this month
reflects this. I’ve been inspired by
the increasing number of wonderful
individuals and community groups I
have come across who have worked
tirelessly to bring people together
from all ages and backgrounds
throughout the Borough. The last
year and the coming months will no
doubt prove challenging for Haringey
- but it is at this time that we can
draw inspiration from the actions of
those that suffered harder and for
longer and eventually triumphed.
Although Haringey has always
suffered more than others from
economic poverty, we have never
been impoverished in terms of our
people or of our culture - this month
is our chance to prove that.
I pay special tribute to Bernie’s wife,
Sharon, who has been central to
putting together this month’s
programme and has been
instrumental in preserving his legacy.
I wish you all an interesting and
inspiring Black History Month.
Cllr Claire Kober
Leader of Haringey Council
I am delighted to introduce the
fantastic programme of events
scheduled for Black History Month.
This year especially we are marking
10 years since the death of Bernie
Grant who did so much for
Haringey. Bernie had a strong sense
of his heritage and was passionate
about ensuring the experiences and
achievements of individual
communities were marked and
celebrated.
We are lucky to live in a borough in
which so many cultures coexist, and
the wealth of events planned over
the coming weeks give us a chance
to celebrate the achievements and
ambitions of all that is black culture.
There really is something for
everybody, from jewellery making
workshops, to family fun days and
seminars on the impact of Obama’s
election. I hope that hundreds of you
will join us to enjoy this festival of
Black History.
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