'Black History Month should spark conversations'

Ellisha Soanes won the Association of Colleges' (AoC) President's Award for her work teaching black history throughout the year

A diversity consultant says Black History Month, which started in 1987, needs to be the start for conversations about how the stories of black and brown people are embedded in school curriculums throughout the year.

Ellisha Soanes is a co-director of Aspire Black Suffolk, which supports organisations on race, equality and inclusion.

Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk, she said: "It's about how do we move forward? How do we teach it? Because I'm not black just in a month and then I'm back in my box.

"It's about what narratives and what stories are being told in history, what stories are being told from different communities?"

Aspire Black Suffolk worked in partnership with Suffolk Museums to publish a black history education book: Elimu - The Little Book of Knowledge.

Mrs Soanes works nationally with schools, colleges and community groups, and praised some of the work happening in Suffolk.

"One school, in January and February, is talking about Windrush and how they brought so much to the UK, the nurses and the bus drivers, to make it how it is today.

"You've got them talking about Kemit, the name for ancient Egypt, and what they brought to the UK.

"If you talk about the first and second World Wars, have you heard of Garrett Morgan before?

"Garrett Morgan created the gas mask, and actually, when we think about November and Remembrance Day, if it wasn't for someone like him would my great grandparents be alive?

"So it's brilliant, It's amazing, and it's amazing to think that these stories weren't told."

BME Suffolk celebrated their first Black History Month event in Bury St Edmunds with a cake

Events are also being held by another group, BME Suffolk Support.

It has a base in Ipswich and also runs projects in West Suffolk, holding its first Black History Month event in Bury St Edmunds on 5 October.

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• 'My life is easy thanks to Windrush generation sacrifices'

• Saturday school teaching black history in Peterborough

Founder Funmi Akinriboya said: "It was really a big turnout, around 50 people, with some traveling from Kentford, Brandon and Mildenhall.

"We are getting more people within the ethnic community coming together and looking for that sense of family, sense of belonging.

"For us, Black History Month is not just a day, it should be every month.

"It's up to us as a community, and as family, to educate young people, both within the ethnic community, as well as the wider community.

"If all the community understand what we are celebrating it will reduce the tension and brings understanding of how we appreciated and relate to each other.

"So it's not just for the ethnic community to do black history month, it's for all of us."

BME Suffolk are also holding at event in Ipswich on Saturday. 12 October.

Funmi Akinriboya at the recent event held in Linden House in Bury St Edmunds, which included poetry and food.