East London Celebrates Black History Month 2025

1 October 2025
By Amy Glass

The annual celebration for the contributions and heritage of our Black communities in the UK is upon us this October, with another exciting programme of activities and events.

The theme for Black History Month UK 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.” This timely and relevant theme aims to provide solidarity and strength to our communities across the UK and in London, reflecting the importance of coming together to honour the many positive contributions made by Black people who are an integral part of the country’s achievements in science, math, technology, arts, culture and sports.

The Black contribution to Britain didn’t just start from the landing of the various Windrush ships: Black people have been documented living here for over a thousand years, since medieval times, with figures such as John Blanke, ‘the black trumpeter’ of the English Tudor court, who was featured twice in the Westminster Tournament Roll of 1511.

Soldiers from across the Commonwealth, including the West Indies, India and Africa supported the British Army in the First World War and the Second World War and made a great contribution to the united success.

In London, Jamaican poet Francis Barber (c. 1742/3 – 13 January 1801) lived here as the manservant, secretary and protégé of Samuel Johnson, author of the Dictionary of the English Language and was considered a contributor. Black British abolitionist and writer Olaudah Equiano (c.1745 – 1797) and pioneering nurse and heroine of the Crimean War Mary Seacole (1805-1881) also made their home in the city.

Modern London has long been home to many important artists, writers, activists and civic leaders, such as journalist, activist and Notting Hill Carnival founder Claudia Jones (1915–1964) and Jamaican-born British Marxist sociologist, cultural theorist and political activist Stuart Hall (1932–2014). Writers and poets of recent times include Olive Morris, Alex Wheatle and Andrea Levy.

Today we are living amongst many notable figures, such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Idris Elba, Margaret Busby and Lady Phyll (Phyllis Akua Opoku-Gyimah), to name a few. You can learn more about the nation’s most celebrated and notable figures in 100 Great Black Britons, founded by Patrick Vernon OBE and Dr Angelina Osborne.

The month unites our communities as we come together around Black culture and heritage, from art, literature, music to theatre, film, and more, with inclusive and engaging programmes that ensure all ages are involved. Across East London, we invite you to explore the wide range of activities, events, talks, walks, workshops and performances on offer in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

From theatre productions of Black Men Walking (Hackney) and The Harder They Come (Newham) to film screening and Q&A of Sing Sing, a true life story of a man wrongly incarcerated who discovers theatre (Tower Hamlets) and an exhibition of Black elders, Unheard Stories (Waltham Forest), there is something for everyone this month.

We are pleased to spotlight activities from our grantees: Music & Jam, a young people’s open mic and free jamming session with Newham Museum (Newham) and My Mind, a workshop for young males exploring mental health, with the aim of producing a Black History Month exhibition with Makeda Makes (Waltham Forest).

Stay tuned for more tips and suggestions on activities taking place across East London this month. We’ll also share some resources that have inspired us to learn more and do more to celebrate our Black communities.

Photo credit: Black History Tube Map