Black History Month is celebrated every year in October which originated in 1970 officially in the United States, eventually spread to the UK in 1987 and has continued to mark the contributions of Black people throughout history.
A founder of a Black History Group in Bolton has spoken of her experience growing up as a black woman and the importance of celebrating and remembering the history.
Jasmine Jackson reports
Marlene Walker was born to Jamaican parents in Tonge Fold, after they moved to Bolton in the early 60s.
Her mum Loraine and dad Ralph have lived in Tonge Fold now for 57 years, and Marlene explained that there was a lot of opposition when they moved in.
She said: “At first there was opposition to us moving in, and she was upset and angry.
“She considered moving to another area.
“However, my dad insisted that we stay put.
“She gradually got over being upset and has since made lifelong friends where she lives.”
Marlene says that times have changed now, but she remembers as a child not being invited to street parties.
She said: “I remember as a child when there were parties in the street and all the other kids got invited and I didn’t.
“But people’s attitude changed as they got to know you.”
Marlene described racism in Britain as being “not as in your face”, but she recalled the time that civil rights activist Roy Hackett primarily organised the Bristol Bus Boycott, protesting against the Bristol Omnibus Company’s ban, on employing black and Asian drivers and conductors.
She said: “A lot of people aren’t aware of it.
“He changed the Race Relations Act in 1965 because he got people to look at it and politicians to change policies to make history for us.
“We all know about the Holocaust and what Jewish people went through.
“Black History Month should be like that too.”
To continue shining a light on Black History and to pursue her passion, Marlene decided to create the Bolton Black History Group in February 2020 just before the pandemic, which remained online due to several restrictions at the time.
Black History Month officially launches today in Bolton with its traditional opening ceremony staged by African Community Assocation of Bolton.
It will take place at 11am in Market Place in unit 28, to highlight why the month is so important.
Marlene said: “When George Floyd was killed that year it seemed that the community needed something to connect with.
“I wanted to do something and felt that there needed to be more action over the injustices that have happened, and I created an online Facebook group.
“Learning about history is how there can be a greater understanding so we can learn and not make the same mistakes.
“It’s not too serious at the group all the time and there is a lot of fun, but it is there to also honour our community and the wider community.”
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If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.
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