October Black History Month 2017

RJC Dance studio space has a packed calendar for Black History Month. We kick off the month with a BME hub event on Friday 13 October 6:00pm - 9:00pm. Then on Friday 20 October we welcome to our studio, Carnival Chronicles, a performance embroidered with moments from Leeds Carnival 50 Heritage with the accounts of the pioneers and community that brought Carnival to the city of Leeds, written and directed by Zodwa Nyoni. BME hub are back again on Friday 27 October to wrap up the month. Contact BME Hub on: 0113 297 7942 for more details on their events.

A Brief History: In the United Kingdom Black History Month was first celebrated in 1987. It was organized through the leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who had served as a coordinator of special projects for the Greater London Council (GLC)

The event is designed to recognise history, experiences and accomplishments of black people. It aims to promote knowledge of black history, both cultural and via heritage, as well as to disseminate information on positive black contributions to British society. The UK version not only recognises the contributions of those from African and Caribbean heritage, but those from Asia too.

The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian 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’. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State USA in February 1970.