UK Black History Month
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1 - 31 October

PROUD TO BE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

With UK Black History Month taking place throughout October, we’re celebrating by centring the experiences of Black people and people from African and Caribbean backgrounds, both in and outside the world of financial services.

Join us this month for a series of personal interviews, thought-provoking insights, and educational resources.

Watch now: SBG’s Alex Beavis in conversation with Skipton Building Society’s Michael Brown

In this half-hour video, the former colleagues sit down to discuss diversity and inclusion in financial services. As Business Development Manager at Skipton Building Society and a Black man, Michael shares his experiences as he’s progressed through the mortgage industry. Focusing on the opportunities, access and support that’s available for people with underrepresented identities within financial services, Michael is passionate about helping make the mortgage industry a home for anyone who chooses to be part of it.

Let’s talk about race, with father and son, Cliff and Charles Walker

We met with former Home Office Race Assessor Cliff Walker and his son Charles. In this hour-long session, Cliff and Charles covered topics from the erasure of Black experiences and contributions to UK culture and society, particularly prior to the 1970s, right through to the ways in which they and their families have experienced racism in their everyday lives. Educational, moving and deeply personal, the session is a must-watch.

Books

Diversify your bookshelf with some of the must-reads below.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race cover
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote her blog post Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race in 2014, fuelled by a hopelessness over the difficulty of communicating her racism-related experiences in the face of the “emotional disconnect” of a white audience.

Read now
Brit(ish) cover
Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch

A fantastic exploration of race in Britain today through the lens of Afua Hirsch's own experiences growing up as a mixed-race Briton, from the difficulties of finding beauty products for Afro hair to exploring the legacies of empire and slavery, this is an intelligent and nuanced work.

Read now
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire cover
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala

Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, Natives speaks directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire.

Read now
So You Want to Talk About Race cover
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

In this breakout book, Ijeoma Oluo explores the complex reality of today's racial landscape - from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement--offering straightforward clarity that readers need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide.

Read now
They Can't Kill Us All cover
They Can't Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery

A deeply reported book that brings alive the quest for justice in the deaths of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Freddie Gray, offering both unparalleled insight into the reality of police violence in America and an intimate, moving portrait of those working to end it. They Can’t Kill Us All grapples with a persistent if also largely unexamined aspect of the otherwise transformative presidency of Barack Obama: the failure to deliver tangible security and opportunity to those Americans most in need of both.

Read now
Bush Baby Books cover
Bush Baby Books Diverse Children’s Books

Bush Baby Books started in our living room, with a Mum and her son and a huge pile of books. Since then we have worked hard to source a wide range of stories that represent all children. It has also been really important to us that these books are beautifully written and illustrated. From the modern classics from our own childhoods, that we can now happily share with our children, to much lesser known stories that just deserve to be heard, we love books that take us on a journey, narratives that educate and uplift us and most importantly stories that inspire and empower.

Read now

Videos

Grab a cuppa and take a few minutes to watch the videos below.

The Most Searched: A Celebration of Black History Makers video icon
The Most Searched: A Celebration of Black History Makers
Black History Month Around The World video icon
Black History Month Around The World
Kids Explain Black History Month video icon
Kids Explain Black History Month
Celebrating Black History Month 2018 video icon
Celebrating Black History Month 2018
Andra Day - 2016 ESPN Black History Month Special: Rise Up video icon
Andra Day - 2016 ESPN Black History Month Special: Rise Up
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