Speakers for Black History Month 2020
Black History Month takes place in October all over the UK. It celebrates the culture, history and achievements of Britain’s Black communities. Promoting black contributions to British Society, it embraces an understanding of Black History in general. First celebrated in the UK in October 1987, it was organised by Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo.
Our diversity, inclusion and equality speakers are in demand throughout the year for their expertise and delivery. And as this year’s event approaches, there is even more demand for October.
Companies have a responsibility to stamp out racism within their organisations and have their workforces embrace diversity. Most importantly they want to learn how to become better allies, and how to support black and brown colleagues in the workplace.
Our speakers are specialists in their fields. They educate on history and culture. Furthermore, they help people understand white privilege and microaggressions, and they share advice on how to build resilience in the face of adversity.
Our Speakers include:
Afua Hirsh
Afua Hirsch is a former barrister, journalist and documentary maker. She regularly writes, reports and speaks on international current affairs, and has published two bestselling books, Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize, and Equal To Everything, about the UK Supreme Court.
Sir Trevor McDonald
The UK’s most respected news and current affairs presenter Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is also an outstanding and hugely popular speaker. He is best known for fronting ITN’s News at Ten, Tonight with Trevor McDonald. Furthermore he presents acclaimed documentaries on subjects as varied as Death Row and notorious UK killers. He was knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism.
Nova Reid
Nova Reid is a diversity campaigner, speaker & culture change consultant. With humility and humour she uses her professional background in mental health to focus on mindset change. She has a proven track record of working with organisations to confront and dismantle workplace inequality. Her primary focus is to improve diversity from the inside-out.
Rageh Omaar
Media Correspondent from around the Globe and fascinating speaker, Rageh Omaar speaking topics include; Economic and political prospects in the Middle East, the nature of Global Risk and how companies can think about it, and the importance of diversity for international organisations.
Please contact enquiries@thespeakersagency.com for further details, availability and fees.
History Notes
In 1926 Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro History Week”
This was the precursor to Black History Month. Research states this week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14. Two dates which black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century.
The event itself was first proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in in the USA in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place one year later, from 2nd January to the 28th February 1970.
By 1976, it was being celebrated all across the USA and President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial.
The President urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history”.
Useful Links
What is Black History Month, and why is it celebrated?
