Celebrating Black History Month 2025

By the MPA DEI Team

Date 03rd October

Reading Time: 5 minutes

The MPA RESPECT Employee Network will be hosting a number of lunch time sessions throughout October to celebrate Black History Month.

Please contact Helen or Saf for more information. Contact details can be found at the end of this blog.

Black History Month is an annual celebration that originated in the United States in 1926 as “Negro History Week,” founded by historian Carter G. Woodson. It was expanded to a full month in 1976 and has since been observed every February in the US and every October in the UK. The UK’s Black History Month began in 1987, launched by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, to honour the contributions of African and Caribbean heritage communities to British society.

Today, Black History Month serves as an important opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future. It recognises the history, creativity, and leadership of Black communities across the world.

The 2025 theme for Black History Month UK is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.” This year’s message is a powerful reminder to honour the strength, perseverance, and achievements of Black communities. It calls on us to celebrate cultural pride, recognise the trailblazers who have shaped history, and acknowledge the vital role of Black leaders, activists, and creators. At the same time, the theme looks forward, encouraging continued unity, empowerment, and progress as we work together towards justice and equality.

Why Black History Month Matters

Black History Month is a time to learn, reflect, and celebrate. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the richness of Black heritage and to recognise that the history, creativity, and leadership of Black people are interwoven into every part of our culture.

It is also a chance to look forward, to ask how we can challenge racism, increase representation, and ensure the contributions of Black communities are understood and celebrated all year round.

Importantly, Black History Month offers a platform to highlight stories that have too often been overlooked or erased from mainstream history. It reminds us that Black history is not separate from national or global history; it is central to it. The month provides space to recognise achievements in politics, science, business, literature, sport, and the arts, and to amplify the voices of leaders, visionaries, and everyday changemakers who inspire progress.

For organisations and individuals alike, it is also a call to action: to reflect on how we can create more inclusive spaces, to understand the challenges of systemic racism, and to commit to making meaningful change not only in October but throughout the year.

The Legacy of Black Music

Black music is one of the most powerful legacies of Black history. It has been both a form of resistance and a source of joy, carrying the stories, struggles, and triumphs of generations. From the spirituals created by enslaved African communities to the birth of jazz, blues, reggae, soul, and hip-hop, Black artists have laid the foundation for much of the world’s music today.

These sounds are more than entertainment; they are expressions of identity, resilience, and cultural pride that continue to influence and inspire across every genre and every continent.

Spirituals and Gospel carried messages of hope and resistance, evolving into gospel and influencing soul pioneers like Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke.

Blues told stories of struggle and resilience, with subgenres like Delta and Chicago blues directly inspiring rock, R&B, and jazz.

Jazz, born in New Orleans, brought improvisation and swing to the world, with offshoots like swing, bebop, and fusion reshaping modern music.

Soul, R&B, and Funk blended gospel passion with rhythm and blues. Funk, led by James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, revolutionised rhythm and groove, paving the way for disco, house, and hip-hop.

Reggae and Ska gave voice to peace and protest from Jamaica, with Bob Marley and others bringing these sounds to a global stage.

Hip-Hop, emerging in 1970s New York, grew into a worldwide cultural movement of music, art, dance, and activism.

Contemporary Genres such as Afrobeats, Afrobeat, amapiano, grime, and drill show how Black artists continue to drive global music trends and tell stories of identity, community, and change.

Even genres like rock and country trace their roots to overlooked Black innovators such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe and DeFord Bailey.

From past to present, Black artists have set the pulse of popular music, inspiring, challenging, and reshaping culture worldwide.

Today, the MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin), founded in 1996, continue to celebrate the global influence of Black artists, providing a platform for emerging talent and honouring legends.

Beyond Music: Platforms for Change

Black musicians have long harnessed their visibility to initiate social change, creating legacies that extend well beyond the stage.

Stormzy launched the Stormzy Scholarship at Cambridge in 2018, supporting 56 Black undergraduates so far, with plans to increase the total to 81 students by 2026. Applications from Black UK students to Cambridge have more than doubled since the programme began. In 2025, he received an honorary doctorate in law from the university for his impact.

Beyoncé has consistently championed Black entrepreneurship and representation. Through her pioneering visual albums and industry-shifting release strategies, she has redefined creative ownership while using her music to challenge stereotypes and amplify Black feminism.

Dave (Santan Dave) uses his lyrics to spotlight inequality, trauma, and mental health. His Mercury Prize-winning Album Psychodrama was praised for tackling social injustice and vulnerability, with tracks like “Lesley” sparking vital conversations.

LittleSimz brings global attention to race, womanhood, and identity through her genre-bending music and film projects, earning international acclaim and influencing a new generation of artists.

Music is more than entertainment; it is a platform for storytelling, protest, and healing. These artists show how creativity can drive cultural change and expand representation.

How We Can Support

For companies and the music industry, Black History Month is an opportunity to take meaningful action that extends beyond October. Here are some ways to show support:

Invest in Education and Training: Provide ongoing learning opportunities for staff about Black history, anti-racism, and inclusive practices in the workplace and industry.

Create Opportunities: Commit to fair recruitment, mentorship, and career development programmes that support Black talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

Amplify Black Voices: Ensure Black artists, professionals, and leaders are given platforms to share their work and perspectives and integrate diverse voices into decision-making spaces.

Champion Representation: Review leadership, boards, and line-ups to ensure equitable representation, and actively work to remove barriers within the industry.

Sustain Year-Round Action: Use Black History Month as a catalyst for ongoing change, embedding DEI commitments into strategy, funding, and everyday practice.

2025 Black History Month Events

Freedom Rising: The Art of Owusu-Ankomah – 4th Sept – 4th Oct

Black History in the Culture Mile – A Walking Tour / Friday 3 October

City Of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour / Saturday 4 October

BHM – African Print Fabric Rag Wreath Workshop / Thursday, 9 October 2025

Black Women Business Talks / Tuesday 14th October

Black Men Business Talks / Tuesday 14th October

Black Allyship Program / Thursday 16th October

The Kickback BHM Special / Thursday 30 October

Resources

https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/

https://www.blackculturenow.com/article/