Saluting Our Sisters for Black History Month 2023

This year’s theme is ‘Saluting our Sisters’ to mark and remember black women who have marked our history and culture locally, in the UK and worldwide. 

Kingston has a rich black history and one that we are extremely proud of. From the former slave Cesar Picton who became a successful coal merchant in the borough in the 1880’s, to the Windrush generation in the mid-twentieth century, all the way to the present day - with one of the few Race and Equalities Councils in the country, and the annual Kingston Carnival which is a key part of the borough’s cultural life. 

As part of our celebrations and ongoing reflections, we will be hosting several different activities around the borough. These include:

• A chance for families to come together at our cultural day with traditional dress, music and food
• A panel discussion with young black achievers and reflecting on what Black History Month means to them 
• An opportunity to explore the story of Cesar Picton and starting a conversation about how best to celebrate and represent his and other stories of Black History in Kingston… and much more! 

Councillor Afy Afilkaka, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Heritage said: 

Kingston’s black communities have played a very important role in shaping the history of the borough and I am very proud that this is a place committed to valuing and celebrating the contributions of all. It’s also a time for reflection on how far society has come and what still needs to be accomplished. 

 

For this year’s Black History Month, we have lots of exciting events and initiatives happening. We want our residents and communities to come along, be inspired and help us Salute our Sisters  - whilst we continue our work to make Kingston a fairer place, together.
 

You can visit our dedicated Black History Month webpages for all events and activities, stories from residents and other resources.