The Origin of Black History Month in the UK

Linda Bellos introduced Black History Month to the UK in 1987, she was born to a white Jewish British mother and Nigerian father and grew up in London.

As a child she heard white people tell her mother that she had betrayed ‘our boys’ by marrying a black man after the sacrifices White people had made in 2nd World War.

Linda later discovered that her father had volunteered for the Merchant Navy to help the mother country.


She also discovered that during the 2nd World War 2.5 million Indian/Pakistani/Sri Lankan/Bangladeshi men and women where involved in the War efforts and 1.5 million during the 1st World War.


Linda Bellos, Part 1 of 3, Black History Month Opening Address

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3