October has arrived, and people right across the UK are coming together to celebrate Black History Month.
First celebrated in the UK in 1987, Black History Month is an event intended to recognise the contribution and achievements of those with African or Caribbean heritage, and is also an opportunity for people to learn more about the effects of racism and how to challenge negative stereotypes.
A worthy light is shone on Black British history and key black figures from the UK during the annual event.
Being such a multi-cultural region, Greater Manchester is known for being a place that champions everything Black History Month is about, with a wide range of events happening throughout the month and beyond.
Here’s just some of the things you could be getting up to.
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1. Black History Matters – Made in Manchester
1 – 31 October
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Written by 15-year-old anti racist activist Tamera following the death of George Floyd, Black History Matters – Made in Manchester is the first volume of an online pamphlet shining a light on black people from Manchester who shaped events and impacted the lives of ordinary people.
“Manchester has a rich history of Black people in struggle that is rarely acknowledged [and] this book is a great contribution to remembering this past and the agency of key individuals – through developing our knowledge we will strengthen our anti racist movement today.” – Dr Shirin Hirsch, historian at Manchester Metropolitan University.
You can find more information, and grab your copy online here.
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2. Black History Month at HOME
1 – 31 October
HOME Manchester
With everything from online theatre and post-show discussions, to a curated film offering, drop-in workshops, music sessions and more, HOME MCR is celebrating Black artistic brilliance and groundbreaking Black artists and talent across film, theatre, art, music and comedy in the North West this month with a programme of exciting events designed to bring people together to uplift, inspire and entertain.
You can find HOME’S Black History Month programme of events in full here.
3. Knock Out Blow!
Tuesday 5 October
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Piccadilly Gardens
‘Knock Out Blow!’ is a community-led play that explores the life of Manchester boxing legend Len Johnson.
It’s concerned with challenging racial discrimination and celebrating our collective history, and forms part of The People’s Assembly’s broader campaign aimed at addressing systemic racial inequalities by providing more realistic and positive Black history and role models for Manchester.
HOME MCR is celebrating Black artistic brilliance and groundbreaking Black artists and talent throughout this month / Credit: HOME Manchester‘Knock Out Blow!’ is a community-led play that explores the life of Manchester boxing legend Len Johnson / Credit: The People’s Assembly
4. In Conversation with Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu
Wednesday 6 October
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Professor Dame Anionwu will be in discussion with the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society’s president Ian Cameron as part of an online event this Wednesday to discuss Mary Seacole and her own long and illustrious career in nursing.
The discussion will cover the lives, struggles and achievements of both women, who grew up over a century apart, but as mixed-race girls, both had to overcome the obstacles and frustrations of white, male-dominated society.
Tickets are priced at £5.98, and more information can be found here.
5. Black History is World History
Wednesday 6, 13, 20, & 27 October
Manchester Central Library
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A series of ‘Black History is World History’ educational sessions and free workshops aimed at adults and designed to take you on a whirlwind exploration of black history through the ages are happening at Manchester Central Library every Wednesday evening in October from 5.30pm -7.30pm.
You can find more about what’s happening each week here.
6. Judas and the Black Messiah
Sunday 10 October
Prestwich Community Cinema
In this gripping true-life 2021 drama film, Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya stars as Fred Hampton – a young, charismatic activist who becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, putting him directly in the crosshairs of the government, the FBI, and the Chicago Police.
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But to destroy the revolution, the authorities are going to need a man on the inside – FBI mole Bill O’Neal, played by fellow Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield.
The film will be screened at The Carlton Club in Prestwich, and you can grab tickets here.
Academy Award-winner Daniel Kaluuya stars in the 2021 gripping true-life drama film Judas and the Black Messiah / Credit: YouTubeBooker Prize-winning novelist Bernadine Evaristo will discuss her ground-breaking work with fellow writer and MLF Patron Jackie Kay / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
7. An Evening with Bernadine Evaristo
Monday 11 October
HOME Manchester
To celebrate Black History Month and as part of Manchester Literature Festival 2021 at HOME Manchester, Anglo-Nigerian novelist, poet and theatre writer Bernardine Evaristo – who was the first Black woman and the first Black British author to win the Booker Prize for her stunning novel Girl, Woman, Other – will discuss her ground-breaking work with fellow writer and MLF Patron Jackie Kay.
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Tickets start at £16, and you can grab yours here.
8. Can I Live?
Monday 11 October
HOME Manchester
Offered by HOME Manchester on a ‘Pay What You Decide’ basis, this filmed performance of Can I Live? invites audiences to join Fehinti Balogun on a journey into the world of environmental activism, as he tells the story of how, as a young Black British man, his path has been forever changed by what he’s learnt about our planet.
Can I Live? uses original hip-hop and spoken word, and is described as a call-to-arms to anyone curious about what we can do to help.
For a one-off night exploring the life and music of one America’s most prolific and influential composers, Untold Orchestra will cover the breadth of Nina Simone’s career alongside acclaimed vocalist Yemi Bolatiwa – who takes centre stage at Blues Kitchen Manchester to recite Simone’s powerful lyrics.
From ‘Feeling Good’ to ‘Sinnerman’, Nina Simone’s most iconic melodies set a standard for a generation of jazz and soul artists.
This 2016 film based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly stars Taraji P. Henson, and Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe and tells the little-known story of three black female mathematicians who played a vital part in NASA’s space race.
Despite their outstanding work, they have often been overlooked by the history books.
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The film will be screened by Small Cinema at Oldham Library & Lifelong Learning Centre, with tickets from just £3 here.
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Featured Image – HOME Manchester
What's On
Travel warning issued as Manchester braces for busiest day of the year so far
Daisy Jackson
A ‘plan ahead’ travel warning has been issued for this weekend as the Manchester Marathon brings the busiest day of the year so far on the tram network.
Tens of thousands of people will hit the streets to take part in the race itself, with thousands more cheering them on from the sidelines.
This year’s Manchester Marathon route takes 36,000 runners through Sale, Stretford and Timperley before finishing up at a new finish line on Oxford Road – and there’ll be some big changes to your usual travel routes to accommodate this.
TfGM has said that Bee Network trams will be very busy before, during and after the 26.2 mile race, especially in Manchester and Trafford, with a number of road closures in place too.
Taking place on Sunday 27 April, the Manchester Marathon will coincide with Manchester’s popular St George’s Day parade which starts and ends across town around Oldham Road and Great Ancoats Street.
People are being encouraged to plan their journeys carefully this weekend, as it’s expected to be the busiest day of the year on the Bee Network trams.
The Manchester Marathon last year set a new personal best for the tram network, with 175,000 tram journeys racked up – the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday.
Trams will be the best choice to get around the Manchester Marathon course with key stops along the route including Sale, Timperley and Chorlton.
Many road closures will also be in place but at different times of day, so make sure you check HERE for the latest.
This will impact bus services, which will be on diversion from 8am until the end of service on Sunday, with traffic and congestion expected on surrounding roads.
Runners heading to the start line will only be able to access the athletes’ village from Old Trafford and Trafford Bar tram stops up until 9am. Participants arriving after 9am should get off at Wharfside or Exchange Quay instead.
Metrolink is promising to deploy as many double trams as possible across the network, with additional services between Piccadilly and Timperley.
As for other modes of transport, those who wish to drive should make us of Park and Ride facilities where possible; and those on the train should note that Salford Central remains closed with bus replacements in place.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Director at TfGM said: “The Manchester Marathon is a highlight of the Manchester city centre calendar and our job is to make sure everyone can get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.
“We want everyone to have a great day – whether they are taking on the run themselves or cheering on a friend or loved one – and would urge people to plan their journey in advance, leave plenty of time and check the Bee Network app or website for the most up-to-date information.
“The start and finish lines will be especially busy so if you are coming to watch you may be better off catching the tram to Sale, Timperley or Chorlton, grabbing a coffee and claiming afront row seat to cheer runners on.
“Using public transport is the best way to avoid congestion and delays – and with Tap and Go contactless payments it’s never been easier or more seamless to get around Greater Manchester by bus and tram.”
Passengers can now travel seamlessly between bus and tram and pay for their journey by tapping on when boarding a bus without the need for a ticket, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel.
People travelling on Bee Network buses on Marathon Day can simply tap in and pay £5 for the day on as many buses as they need and just £4.90 on the tram. You can use all Bee Network buses as much as you want all day from just £5.40*.
Kirsty Wilde, Operations Director, from Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said: “The TfGM tram service is an invaluable part of our event, which allows thousands of participants and supporters to navigate around the city. With a record-breaking 36,000 participants set to take part on Sunday 27th April – and more exciting activities taking place over the weekend as a whole – we’re anticipating a rise in tram journeys, which will subsequently bring economic benefits to local vendors, the hospitality sector, and retail businesses.
“We’d like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for its continued hard work helping to facilitate what will be the largest event yet, and would also like to say a big thank you to the residents and businesses across Greater Manchester for their understanding and support.”
Science and Industry Museum reveals CGIs of iconic Power Hall that’s been closed for years
Daisy Jackson
One of the Science and Industry Museum’s most iconic attractions will reopen this summer – and the beloved museum has revealed a sneak peak of how things will look.
The museum has shared CGIs of the reimagined Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery, where visitors will be able to explore a lively working gallery full of engines and rail vehicles.
The popular part of the museum closed for urgent repairs in 2019 and has since been undergoing conservation work and a new look created by award-winning designers Studio MUTT.
The sounds, smells and sights of Manchester’s past and present industry will be brought to the Power Hall when it reopens.
Visitors will soon again be able to rediscover objects and learn the stories behind those who powered Manchester’s industry.
There’ll be three main themes within the Power Hall – Making More, which will explore how engines helped people make more, faster, with steam engines installed at factories and mills.
Then there’ll be Powering Lives, which will examine how engines power the electricity network we all plug into every day.
And also Connecting Places, which looks at how locomotives have connected communities around the world, starting at the site of the museum which sparked a transport revolution in 1830.
Science and Industry Museum reveals CGIs of iconic Power Hall that’s been closed for years
Kate Chatfield, Interpretation and Content Manager at the Science and Industry Museum, said: “Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery will be a must-see Manchester experience – a living gallery that showcases a unique collection of historic 19th and early 20th century working engines to tell the story of Manchester as an epicentre for the engine-driven ideas and industry that shaped the world as we know it today.
“Our most iconic objects will be available to explore like never before as we bring to life the people behind the power through stories of the engineers, makers and technicians who use their skills and senses to create and care for engines, both today and in the past.”
The work on the Power Hall is part of a multi-million-pound regeneration project across the Science and Industry Museum, which is conserving and reimagining these historic buildings.
The Power Hall has been future-proofed in the six years it’s been closed to the public, including urgent roof and timber repairs.
Further information about what to see and do and the Power Hall’s opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. Sign up to the museum’s mailing list to be among the first to hear more.
Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery project has been made possible with support from The Law Family Charitable Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Headley Trust, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Atmos International, The Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust, The Zochonis Charitable Trust and other donors who choose to remain anonymous.
Special thanks to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their significant contribution to the gallery, and to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for funding the decarbonisation of the Power Hall through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance.
Emily Sergeant -
5th October 2021 
