A huge part of Black History Month for many people is Black Power – an ideology which aims to achieve self-determination for black people.

It initially emerged in the US in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but the movement soon took shape in the UK with several groups set up to fight for racial equality.

Although perhaps less well known than in the US – which had a clear focus on fighting segregation and produced iconic figures like Muslim minister and activist Malcolm X – British Black Power saw several important political moments.

The Black Panthers was perhaps the most influential group of its type in the UK. Founded in 1968 by activist Obi Egbuna, it produced a newspaper, led campaigns against police brutality and ran sessions to encourage black people to read books by radical authors.

The Mangrove Nine were also considered a big part of the movement after they were tried for inciting a riot at a protest in 1970 in London, and were all acquitted of the most serious charges.

The judge concluded there had been ‘evidence of racial hatred on both sides’, which was highly significant as it was the first judicial acknowledgement of racial prejudice within the Metropolitan Police in London.

Although the notion of Black Power through political groups may have faded a little since the 1970s, it has re-emerged recently as part of the Black Lives Matter movement in the aftermath of the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of US police in 2020.

Many also now interpret Black Power as a demonstration of pride and empowerment, particularly at events like Notting Hill Carnival – a Caribbean festival which has taken place in London every year since 1966 (except during the Covid-19 pandemic).

Here are just some key moments and images from black history through the decades in the UK: from the political to the joyous.

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Black History Month

October marks Black History Month, which reflects on the achievements, cultures and contributions of Black people in the UK and across the globe, as well as educating others about the diverse history of those from African and Caribbean descent.

For more information about the events and celebrations that are taking place this year, visit the official Black History Month website.

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