When Equality Becomes Real: Reflections on Black History Month

Fraser Annis
Oct 31
3 min read

By Fraser Annis

A Month That Means More Than Ever

This year’s Black History Month arrives at a time of deep uncertainty and social division. Across the UK, the US, and beyond, we’re witnessing a disturbing rise in far-right politics, intolerance, and open racism.

The masks have slipped. Prejudices that once hid behind polite words or coded language are once again stepping into the light. It forces us to ask difficult questions: How do we treat others? Why do we treat them that way? And where do we draw the line between ignorance and hate?

Equality Is Freedom, Not a Favour

True equality means freedom - freedom from discrimination, prejudice, and judgement. It’s about ensuring every person, regardless of background or appearance, has the same right to belong, to contribute, and to be respected.

In a world free from racism, we wouldn’t need themed months or remembrance campaigns to honour those who came before us. The legacy of Black excellence would be naturally woven into our shared culture, not confined to a single month.

Until that day arrives, Black History Month remains vital - not as a token gesture, but as a reminder of our ongoing duty to build a fairer, kinder world.

The Global Legacy of Black Brilliance

From Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. to Bob Marley and Doreen Lawrence, the global Black community has shaped modern society in profound ways. Their courage, ideas, and leadership have inspired movements for freedom, creativity, and justice across generations.

Our human rights, cultural diversity, and even the music and art we love are indebted to those who refused to accept inequality as normal. Their legacy is not distant - it’s in the very fabric of who we are today.

When Diversity Becomes a Checkbox

Celebration alone isn’t enough. Real progress requires honesty about where we still fall short. Too often, diversity is treated as a checkbox exercise rather than a lived commitment.

When organisations include Black voices simply to “tick boxes” or earn diversity points, they’re not practicing inclusion - they’re practising tokenism. Tokenism is discrimination disguised as progress.

Equality isn’t about favouritism; it’s about fairness. Opportunities should be open to everyone who’s ready to take them. Inclusion means valuing people for who they are, not using them to make institutions look good.

The Danger of Racialised Narratives

The same principle applies beyond workplaces - especially in the media and government. When we read the news, our first reaction shouldn’t be to focus on someone’s skin colour. Facts should come first.

That’s why the UK Government’s decision to instruct police forces to highlight offenders’ ethnicity was not only misguided - it was dangerous. It risks fuelling stereotypes, undermining trust, and putting innocent lives at risk.

Crime has no colour. Justice, by definition, must be blind. To reintroduce racial profiling under the guise of transparency is to turn back the clock on decades of hard-won progress.

Black History Month: A Time for Education

Black History Month should not just be a celebration - it should be an education. It invites us to reflect on how far we’ve come and to honour those who got us here.

From abolitionists and activists to artists and innovators, these figures remind us that progress was never inevitable - it was fought for, inch by inch. Their struggles, sacrifices, and resilience teach us that understanding history is essential if we are to avoid repeating it.

History itself does not change, but our understanding of it must evolve. Education - honest, sometimes uncomfortable education - is the antidote to prejudice.

Building a Future Where Equality Is Lived

Racism, in all its forms - overt or subtle, structural or social - remains unacceptable. The fight against it cannot be seasonal. It must be constant, grounded in empathy, knowledge, and action.

If we truly want to honour the legacies of those who fought before us, we must live their values every day: courage, fairness, and compassion.

Because equality isn’t real until it’s lived. And the day we no longer need to celebrate Black History Month will be the day its purpose has been fulfilled - when justice, understanding, and respect are no longer aspirations, but realities shared by all.