The BBC starts its 'Black And British’ season of programming to celebrate the achievements of Black people in Britain to highlight the rich culture and heritage of Black people in the UK. Running throughout November, there will be features on BBC Two and Four, with other content across BBC television, radio and online exploring the history and examining the contribution and impact of Black people in the UK, as well as interrogating just what it means to be Black and British today.
BBC Two Channel Editor, Patrick Holland, said: “This is a hugely important season of programmes that not only celebrates the enormous contribution that Black people have made to the shaping of modern Britain, but also raises challenging questions about how we tell our shared history and what meritocracy means today.”
As the place to come for strong opinions and authorship, I’m delighted that BBC Two is at the heart of the season with a wide range of stimulating and ambitious programming featuring a brilliant array of talent; from David Olusoga telling a forgotten history of Britain from the perspective of Black inhabitants and David Harewood exploring the challenges a Black child would face in reaching our country’s top job, to hearing from some of the most influential and best-loved people in the UK telling us what it is like to be Black and British today. The season is a challenging, questioning and vibrant celebration of our shared history.”
The Black And British season has been produced in collaboration with a range of partners: the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England, The National Archives, Black Cultural Archives and the BFI. All are participating in the BBC’s Black British Hero social media campaign as well as running their own complementary campaigns. The partners are also organising public events, activities and programmes inspired or supported by the season and its content which hope to encourage people across the country to get involved in their own research and leave a lasting legacy.
David Olusoga, presenter and historian, says: “I’m very proud to be a part of this landmark BBC season and hope my series, Black And British: A Forgotten History, will provide audiences with a very different, challenging and enlightening view of Black British history, a history that I feel is very much part of all of us.”
Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, Tom McDonald, says: “The BBC's Black And British season goes way beyond our rich, varied and provocative television titles on BBC Two and BBC Four. On television, I'm delighted that BBC Three is launching a brand new comedy as part of the season; our radio offer goes across our stations, taking in lively debates and music and our digital content includes short form, interactive content and ways to explore Black British history and culture in huge depth.
Our partnerships take the season out into Britain, with screenings, events and activities. Along with the Black History Plaques, these partnerships will provide a lasting legacy and the means for everyone in the UK to get involved.
The season would have been impossible without the talent, commitment and passion of all the filmmakers, presenters, partners and producers who have spent the past 18 months putting it together."
