Black History Association (Gravesham and Kent)

Theme: Standing Firm in Power and Pride

Dear members, patrons, supporters

As we mark the opening of Black History Month 2025, it is my privilege - on behalf of Black History Association (Gravesham & Kent) - to welcome you to a month of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment.

For too long, Black history in Britain has been reduced to footnotes or snapshots confined to a single month. Yet the lived experience, the struggles, triumphs, creativity, and contributions of Black people in Britain are woven into the tapestry of every community, every field of endeavour, and every generation. At Black History Association (Gravesham & Kent), we deepen awareness, reclaim narratives, and empower new generations to stand on the shoulders of those who came before.

This year’s theme centres on Power, Pride and Inclusion. These three words, while simple, hold profound purpose - and they demand action, not just admiration.

Power

Power is about agency - over our stories, our opportunities, our future. It means creating spaces where Black voices are not only heard, but are instrumental in shaping decisions - in institutions, civic life, education, arts, business and faith communities.

But power is also responsibility: holding systems accountable, challenging inequity, asking difficult questions of ourselves and those in positions of influence.

Pride

Pride is rooted in remembrance - knowing where we come from, acknowledging ancestors and histories often silenced or distorted. It is also rooted in celebration - of every Black scientist, nurse, doctor, teacher, artist, athlete, entrepreneur, activist who has enriched Britain socially, culturally and economically.

This month, we lift up real stories: local, regional, national. Let these stories inspire us, particularly our youth, to walk with confidence in their identity and heritage.

Inclusion

Inclusion is the work of making space. It’s not merely inviting diversity; it’s transforming environments so that every person - regardless of race, background or means - feels welcomed, respected, able to contribute fully.

Inclusion means dismantling barriers: in education, employment, health, housing, the arts, civic life. It means listening well, amplifying marginalised voices, and turning commitment into concrete policies, pathways and practices.

Why this matters now

Across Britain today, conversations on race, integration and immigration are often fraught with tension and misunderstanding. Many feel restless - not least because the promise of equality remains unfulfilled for too many. Some retreat into silence or withdrawal; some fall prey to polarised rhetoric.

But that is precisely why this month matters. We cannot leave these matters unattended. We must engage - not simply to placate, but to transform. This month is not a token gesture. It is a call to action.

How you can join in

Here are some of the ways every one of us can live out Power • Pride • Inclusion:

Attend our Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 19 October at All Saints Church, Belvedere: Come with curiosity, prayer, openness to learn, connect and commit.

Educate yourself and others: Seek out books, films, and other literature. Encourage schools, churches and groups in Gravesham and Kent to adopt inclusive curricula and programming.

Support youth and mentoring: Use your networks to open doors. Sponsor or volunteer in programmes that build confidence, skills, leadership among young people of Black and minority ethnic heritage.

Amplify Black voices: In your workplaces, churches, neighbourhoods - centre the wisdom, creativity and leadership of Black people rather than speaking over them or on their behalf.

Hold institutions to account: Ask your schools, councils, churches, arts organisations whether their leadership, staffing, programming reflect the diversity they serve. Advocate for equity in hiring, funding, representation.

Sustain the momentum beyond October: Black History is not a seasonal topic. Let this month catalyse year-round awareness, collaboration and structural change.

In closing

As we launch into this month’s celebrations and reflections, I urge us all to come together - with humility, courage, love. Let us build bridges, not walls. Let us plant seeds of hope, not of complacency. Let us commit that when future generations look back, they will see that in 2025, in Kent, we did more than talk - we acted.

May our faith, our heritage, and our shared humanity guide our steps. May our communities grow stronger, kinder, fairer. And may this month be a beacon: not just of remembrance, but of possibility.

Warm regards
Dr Jellina Davies