Top resources for Black History Month
The final part of our four-part series Celebrating Black History throughout the year is dedicated to a knowledge hub of resources we have compiled to educate, inspire and uplift you.
Black History isn’t singular; it comes with a multitude of thoughts, stories, people and culture. These resources are categorised by content, including books, communities, films/series and podcasts. Use them to gain insight as a tool to make us all allies.
Books
African folklore, myths and legends have been handed down through generations via word of mouth. Within these tales, lies the mermaid. Mermaids are known by different names across the nations, for example in parts of West Africa, as Mami Wata. Yemoja, among the Yoruba people of Nigeria and La Sirène, is a Haitian spirit of the sea.
Narratives surrounding mermaids and sirens have been documented and published worldwide, serving as inspiration.
Rivers Solomon taps into her African heritage by channelling the story of water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard who must build their own underwater society and reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future.
“The deep will be our sibling, our parent, our relief from endless solitude. Down here, we are wrapped up. Down here, we can pretend the dark is the black embrace of another.”
Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice – Nkechi Taifa
Attorney, activist and scholar Nkechi Taifa shares themes of politics, law and culture in her memoir as an attorney during the Black Power era. The novel tackles her quest for justice in a society where the odds were against her favour but she was able to prevail.
“She wants a conscious Black attorney. She wants a revolutionary Black attorney. She wants you!”
Half of a Yellow Sun – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A historical reconstruction of the Biafran War in 1967, the novel focuses on four perspectives: the daughter of a wealthy Igbo chief, a house servant, British expatriate and a university professor at the centre of the conflict.
It raises issues around identity, love, pain, journalism and war. History is present in this book through the stories and a glossary of words from the Igbo dialect and pidgin.
“If the sun refuses to rise we will make it rise.”
The Anti-Racist Organization: Dismantling Systemic Racism in the Workplace – Shereen Daniels
HR Strategist, Shereen Daniels delivers a manual for business leaders to drive change in the workplace. This involves practices to achieve an equitable environment where all can thrive. She shares lived experiences, historical facts, HR insights and quantitative analysis – striving for equality.
‘‘Reverse engineer your approach and seek to change the conditions, your workplace cultures and behaviours so that it works for everyone, not just the ‘majority’ who look like you.”
The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table – Minda Harts
The memo offers a tailored career advice guide to women of colour to find their voice in the workplace. The guide is structured around career experiences, a plan of action to create a path to progress and support for women of colour.
“We are constantly fighting those lovely labels some of our colleagues adorn us with… it’s important to kill those harmful stereotypes.”
Voices of the Windrush Generation – David Matthews
The real-life stories of nine immigrants from the West Indies who settled in Great Britain are compiled in this book. It celebrates the wealth of cultural impact that Afro-Caribbeans made in the UK and delivers tales of challenges, homage and identity.
“No records had been kept, apparently. People who had spent decades in Britain… were being tossed aside like old boots.’’
Communities
Discover a list of online communities on LinkedIn and across social networks that provide a community platform for people of colour to gain knowledge across specialist subjects:
BYP Network
Black Recruiters Network
Black Equity Organisation
Black Leaders Worldwide
BREATHE Black, Indigenous, People of Colour HR Professionals & Allies
Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
Diversity and Cross-Cultural Professionals
Diversity Professionals
Dope Black Professionals
TheBlackLawyers.com
The Black HR Network
The Black Apprentice Network
Films/Series
Another goal of Black History Month is to highlight the stories of the untold, unwritten, and forgotten. There were many key figures but their history was diluted. Chevalier is based on the true story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a revered French violinist whose career rose to heights in French society as a composer but was hampered by racism.
“One day the whole world will know me and of course, the music will be spectacular – bold.’’
They Cloned Tyrone – Juel Taylor
This genre-busting science fiction comedy involves clones, conspiracy and charisma. Without revealing too much of the plot, it dives into societal issues and modern-day propaganda that are often overlooked.
“Somebody is conducting experiments on us.’’
This docuseries is about Black women’s relationships with their hair, leading viewers through a journey of connecting their lived experiences whilst touching on societal and historical themes. It’s an intimate, powerful representation of women’s identity, beauty, culture and humanity.
“Black hair is both stigmatised and celebrated.’’
If you’re a fan of supernatural thrillers and drama, this one’s for you. It explores the terrors of the refugee experience of a South Sudanese couple who must flee from war to an English town.
Struggling to adjust, they discover darkness lurking beneath the cracks of their home. The film reveals the experience of how immigrants are treated by the government and the host country.
“This is bail, Mr. and Mrs Majur. You’re being released on bail as asylum seekers. Not as citizens, not yet.’’
Insecure – Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore
The series follows the lives of modern-day black women, throughout their trials and tribulations. It shares uncomfortable important topics that are often overlooked, rebelling against the stereotype of the angry Black woman.
“Black women aren’t bitter, they’re just tired of being expected to settle for less.”
The trailblazing film explores the perils of a Black man fighting for his identity and battling with societal norms on sexuality and love. It was based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.
“At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you gonna be. Can’t let nobody make that decision for you.”
Run The World – Leigh Davenport
This is a comedy television series based in Harlem about a group of unapologetically vibrant Black Women who navigate relationships, the corporate world and strive for world domination.
“Do not feel guilty about wanting more. Fear is good. Fear is fuel.”
The Woman King – Gina Prince-Bythewood
This powerful epic is about strength and sacrifice told from the point of view of the all-female king’s guards, the Agojie of the Dahomey Kingdom. The Agojie women must abstain from marriage and children to serve the king and protect their kingdom.
The film follows true events that happened in one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries located in Benin.
“To be a warrior you must kill your tears.”
Podcasts
Tune into insightful podcasts that deliver topics on DEI, leadership, workplace liberation and inclusive cultures:
Black Law and Legal Lies – Black Law Podcast
This article marks the end of our four-part series celebrating Black History Month. Although this is the last article, the content of our series will be refreshed throughout the years. One month isn’t enough to acknowledge Black History as it is the past, present and future. Therefore, we will keep the series alive – stay tuned for more to come.
