Black History Month is a hugely important event in the calendar, helping to promote and celebrate black contributions to society and furthering understanding of black history.
Its origins date all the way back to the 1920s and the establishment of Negro History Week in the United States, which subsequently evolved into Black History Month in February each year.
This month was chosen as it marked the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass, the African American social reformer, and Abraham Lincoln, the US president who freed the slaves.
It was subsequently launched in the United Kingdom during the 1980s as a way of challenging racism in British society and the Eurocentric version of history that dominated the education system.
It was subsequently launched in the United Kingdom during the 1980s as a way of challenging racism in British society and the Eurocentric version of history that dominated the education system.
The UK stages Black History month in October, primarily because this is traditionally the month when African chiefs and leaders meet to settle their differences.
Black History Month is sometimes criticised in the UK for promoting multiculturalism rather than understanding of the history of the African Diaspora.
However, it remains a significant event in trying to help people to engage with black history in order to understand how a better future can be created for everyone.
Read on as we look at why Black History Month exists and how people use a hugely popular social activity to raise awareness of the issues it seeks to address.
Tackling Traditional Stereotypes
The racial stereotypes of early American history played a significant role in shaping attitudes towards African-Americans and they remain prevalent in modern society.
For instance, whereas companies such as 888 Ladies Bingo work extremely hard to promote diversity, other brands have often been guilty of presenting negative racial stereotypes.
A rival firm was recently censured by the Advertising Standards Authority for running an ad campaign that depicted a white man holding power over a black man.
The regulator found that the ad portrayed the black man as being less intelligent because he merely repeated everything that the white man said.
“We noted that he seemed to look to the white man for reassurance or instruction, suggesting that he lacked the confidence or intellect to behave otherwise,” said the ASA.
“We considered that the ad could be interpreted as humiliating, stigmatising or undermining the standing of the black character and was therefore likely to cause serious offence.”
Addressing the Oppression Issue
The global education system plays a key function in trying to teach people about the difficulties that black people regularly face in society.
‘Oppression Bingo’ is a great example of this in action, with the popular game innovatively used as a platform for sparking conversations about key issues.
Although the game is designed to be a thought-provoking activity, it also injects elements of humour into proceedings in order to impart important messages about matters of race.
The numbers on the card are replaced by phrases that represent the behaviours which cause oppression or how it manifests itself in the modern era.
Some of the expressions featured in the game relate to beliefs that lead to black indigenous people of colour feeling oppressed.
The game strives to highlight how oppression manifests itself in the real world and how it remains a major problem for black people in the 21st century.
Showcasing Historical Achievements
Many educational establishments also use bingo as a way to highlight the historical achievements of black people during the course of history.
Black History Month bingo is an interactive and creative way to celebrate the event by sparking discussion and debate about notable black Americans.
These include Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson and others, and are a great way to showcase the huge impact these individuals made.
These include Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson and others, and are a great way to showcase the huge impact these individuals made.
The game is seen as a way to challenge negative stereotypes by emphasizing historical stories of black achievement and resilience.
This not helps to instil pride amongst black people but also educates whites that they are not alone in having important historical figures.
By challenging pre-conceived notions, the game helps to create an environment that is far more conducive to combating racism.
Supporting Causes Through Bingo
Following the unlawful killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade earlier this year, students in America rallied round to raise money for various organisations.
One example of this was the Muslim Students Association at Fordham University, who created a virtual bingo card to collect donations for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Their efforts highlighted the power of digital platforms, with members encouraged to share the fundraiser via their personal social channels.
They plan to host further bingo-based fundraisers in the future, and will continue to use the game to share information around their network.
MSA Marketing Director, Nazeath Emama, said: “As a minority group on campus, we understand that it is imperative for us to use our platform to increase awareness.
MSA Marketing Director, Nazeath Emama, said: “As a minority group on campus, we understand that it is imperative for us to use our platform to increase awareness.
“We aim to inform the Fordham community and others about the many injustices the black community is facing. We hope our platform also becomes a safe resource for minorities on campus as a whole.”
Celebrating Black Culture Through Music
Black History Month will feature a wide range of activities that are designed to be a celebration of both past and modern black culture.
For many black people reggae music plays an integral role in their life, with the political, social and spiritual nature of the lyrics speaking to them on numerous levels.
For many black people reggae music plays an integral role in their life, with the political, social and spiritual nature of the lyrics speaking to them on numerous levels.
Reggae’s roots stem from the historical slavery and colonialism by different nations, thus making it an important part of black culture.
That ethos will be celebrated in style during Black History Month, with numerous venues around the UK staging innovative Reggae Bingo events.
The shows provide a celebration of reggae through the medium of bingo, creating a fun-filled night that can be enjoyed by adults of all ages.
Reggae Bingo attracts a diverse demographic of people, who gather together to have a good time regardless of their race or background.
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