Three people talk about what impact the annual event has had on their lives and whether it is still needed
Ayo Awoyungbo had always been a big supporter of Black History Month (BHM), believing in the push to highlight people whose achievements are not usually celebrated as they should be. But this year for the first time he has decided not to celebrate.
A change in his thinking was prompted by the racist abuse received by the England footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final this summer. The racism was par for the course, says Awoyungbo, 54, but comments about Rashford in particular made him reflect on the harmful “good immigrant” narrative – Rashford’s campaigning for hungry children was repeatedly brought up to counter the abuse.