Foreword: Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Pride in our history.

“I’m tremendously proud to be supporting Black History Month once again.

In 2007, we marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade and had the chance to reflect on the appalling suffering caused to millions of people. At the conclusion of the Bicentenary, the Government announced our intention to commemorate the slave trade and its abolition every year, and incorporate it as a compulsory part of the national curriculum in schools. And I am proud that in April, Britain made a financial contribution to a permanent memorial in the halls of the UN which will act as a poignant and lasting acknowledgement of the tragedy of the slave trade.
But Black History Month is also a great occasion to celebrate our achievements. Modern Britain is stronger because of the contributions made by our diverse ethnic minority communities. We’re proud to be a modern, open nation and I am determined to do more to encourage and support the very best of British talent. I want to build a Britain where it is someone’s ideas and abilities, and not their race, which counts, and that’s why we recently introduced a new Equality Bill which will protect people against unfair discrimination.

But protecting people from racism is only part of the picture. Equally important is ensuring that the tremendous leadership of the black community is as visible and as celebrated as it deserves to be. From members of the Government to inspirational school heads, pioneering business people to stars of the arts, in every single walk of life you find people of African or African-Caribbean descent making an amazing difference to Britain.
I look forward to hosting a reception at No 10 to celebrate Black History Month, as I did last year.

This important occasion will help inspire the next generation of young people - both men and women, black and white - to write their own chapter of history. That’s something worth celebrating.”

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister