The theme for Black History Month 2021 is Proud2Be, a celebration of personal pride in who you are, where you’re from and what you do in the world – and Croydon BME Forum has been marking that with the community.
Author Kemi Bamgbose came to Thornton Heath Library on Saturday 9 October to share her children’s book – When Mr Mandela Came to Town.
When Kemi was 11-years-old, she took the day off school to see the newly elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, on his momentous visit to Brixton in July 1996. Kemi’s experience inspired her to create her children’s book that she hopes will educate and inspire.
Kemi said: “I remember my mum and dad saying we could take the day off school to go and see Mr Madela in Brixton, which you will never hear from African parents! Yes, they knew how monumental the occasion would be and didn’t want us to out despite being so young – I was 11 at the time.
“I specifically remember my dad saying, ‘this experience will be better than any book you will ever read’, and it couldn’t be truer!”
Croydon’s Black History Month celebrations launched at the Business Xchange Hub at the start of the month, and featured live music from DJ Sound Supreme, Silvastone and Norbury Manor Girls’ Choir, and was hosted by guest speaker, writer and podcaster Debra Chosen.
Local Black History Month events are organised by Croydon BME Forum in partnership with Croydon Council to honour the borough’s black communities as well as their achievements, heritage and culture.
Andrew Brown, Chief Executive of Croydon BME Forum, said: “Our theme this year – Proud2Be – was chosen as we wanted to celebrate all the things that we are proud of. Proud to be black, proud to be a woman, proud to live in Croydon. Whatever you are proud of, we want you to celebrate with us this year during Black History Month.”
To learn more, there is a learning pack on the Museum of Croydon’s website, which includes stories of prominent local black figures like Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Stormzy and Sislin Fay Allen, Britain’s first black female police officer, who lived in Thornton Heath.