Black Journalism

The Black history being made today will shape the future we inherit tomorrow

BLACK HISTORY Month has always been a vital time to reflect, to remember, and to celebrate. It reminds us of the resilience of figures such as Mary Seacole, Marcus Garvey, and Rosa Parks, whose courage changed the future course of history.

Black history: more than looking back

But for a new generation of Black Britons, it is also something more: a chance to reshape the story and ensure that Black history is not only about the past, but also about the present and future.

This is where the idea of Black Futures Matter comes in.

Every October, we rightly look back at the struggles and victories of those who came before us.

Black innovators in technology are breaking barriers and ensuring Black voices help shape the digital future (Pic: Getty)

But if we only look backwards, we risk missing what’s happening right now—and overlooking the people who are shaping tomorrow.

As the often-quoted phrase reminds us: the history we make today will shape the world we inherit tomorrow.

New challenges in a changing world

That world looks far from hopeful for our community right now.

AI, for example, is being hailed as a groundbreaking force, but it is already being weaponised against us.

Racist, AI-generated caricatures of Black women are appearing on YouTube and other platforms, deliberately spreading misinformation and hate.

And with social media companies seemingly rewarding “rage-bait” in their algorithms, debates about race equality are being drowned out by content designed to provoke division.

We also see worrying trends in policing and surveillance.

The Met Police, which patrols the city where Britain’s largest Black community lives, has been testing facial recognition technology at events such as Notting Hill Carnival.

The rise of the far right poses new challenges making it vital to highlight Black excellence and resilience during Black History Month (Pic: Getty Images)

For a community that already knows the disproportionate impacts of policing, such moves raise troubling questions about how technology is deployed and who it targets.

On the political front, the far right in Britain and across Europe is no longer at the fringes.

Its supporters are increasingly cloaking themselves in “respectable” fronts, from Christian nationalism to campaigns like Operation Raise The Colours, yet the core message remains hostile to our communities.

With Labour slipping in the polls and the Conservatives trailing far behind, we face the very real possibility of Nigel Farage leading the country as Prime Minister, with Reform UK in government.

And let’s not forget the long-standing issues that already weigh on Black people: the persistent wealth gap, health and housing inequalities, and barriers faced by Black entrepreneurs.

Breaking barriers in every field

Against this backdrop, it is more important than ever to highlight and support the history being made today by those in our community breaking barriers across every field.

And here’s the truth: for every threat, there are also remarkable acts of resilience, progress and leadership shaping a more positive, resilient  future.

Earlier this year, the UK Association of Black Judges was launched, creating something most of us had never seen before—people who look like us in the highest parts of the judiciary.

David Lammy’s rise to Deputy Prime Minister is history in the making, testing Britain’s readiness for a Black Prime Minister (Pic: Getty Images)

In tech, entrepreneurs like Oliver and Alexander Kent-Braham are rewriting the rules, building Britain’s second unicorn and ensuring Black talent has a central role in shaping tomorrow’s digital economy.

This year’s Black Tech Fest, the largest event of its kind in Europe, will bring 7,000 people together with global tech giants like Microsoft, Uber and Citi—a clear sign of Black innovation leading at the cutting edge.

Beyond Britain, leaders like Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso are inspiring Africa’s youth by challenging neo-colonial power structures, reigniting the unfinished struggle for sovereignty and liberation. In health, Black doctors and nurses are not only breaking barriers at the highest levels but actively transforming patient care with diverse perspectives.

In politics, David Lammy’s rise to Deputy Prime Minister puts Britain closer than ever to testing its readiness for something once unthinkable in the not too distant past —a Black Prime Minister.

In sport and culture too, history is being made right now. Eboni Usoro-Brown has just become president of Netball England. A Black woman leading a UK sporting body is a major milestone.

Melissa Forde, of Jamaican heritage, is breaking barriers as the lead performance chef at Premier League club Wolves. At Tate Modern, curator Osei Bonsu has masterminded the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to Nigerian modernism, rewriting the story of global art history and placing Africa firmly at its centre.

Each of these achievements shapes our shared future. They remind us that even in uncertain times, we are not only resisting, we are building.

By celebrating today’s breakthroughs, we help shift the trajectory of tomorrow away from bleakness and towards something hopeful.

Why celebrating the past still matters

But that does not mean we can leave the past behind.

At the recent Black on the Square event at London’s Trafalgar Square, our community told us clearly that too much of our history is still hidden.

Many did not know, for example, that there was once a Roman emperor of African origin. These stories still need to be told, because they remind us of our deep roots and enduring contributions.

Eboni Usoro-Brown is breaking new ground as the new President of Netball England — a milestone in sport and representation

That is why this October, The Voice is embracing both sides of the story: the future being written in real time in the history being made today and the past that still needs uncovering.

Together, they form the truth of our community’s journey. The message is simple: Making History Today, Building Black Futures Tomorrow.

If Black Futures Matter—and they do—then we must celebrate them now, even as we remember the shoulders on which we stand.

Vic Motune is the editor of The Voice


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