Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives

Directions Website

Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives A community group in solidarity with and for black lives

✊🏽💚Floella Benjamin – A Woman Who Opened Doors for Others.Floella Benjamin is a Trinidadian-born British actress, presen...
16/10/2026

✊🏽💚Floella Benjamin – A Woman Who Opened Doors for Others.

Floella Benjamin is a Trinidadian-born British actress, presenter, author and politician who has made a lasting impact on British society. She moved to the UK as a child and experienced racism and discrimination, but she never allowed those experiences to stop her from achieving great things.

Many of us will remember Floella from Play School, where she became a familiar and much-loved face on British television. At a time when Black people were rarely represented positively on our screens, her presence was incredibly important, particularly for Black children who could finally see someone who looked like them.

Her achievements go far beyond television. She became a campaigner for children’s rights and education, was appointed a Member of the House of Lords in 2010 as Baroness Benjamin, and received an OBE in 2001 for her services to broadcasting. She was later made a Dame in 2020 for her contribution to charity.

For me, Floella Benjamin represents representation, resilience and the importance of opening doors for the next generation. Her journey reminds us that being visible matters, that our children deserve to see themselves reflected in society, and that we should never underestimate the impact one person can have on generations to come.

Her legacy is about more than what she achieved; it is also about the doors she helped open for others. ✊🏽❤️

✊🏽💚Sir Steve McQueen – Black British FilmmakerSir Steve McQueen is an award-winning Black British filmmaker, artist and ...
13/10/2026

✊🏽💚Sir Steve McQueen – Black British Filmmaker

Sir Steve McQueen is an award-winning Black British filmmaker, artist and screenwriter, born in London to parents of Grenadian and Trinidadian heritage. His work explores Black history, racism, identity and injustice, bringing important stories to our screens that have too often been overlooked.

One of his most recognised films is 12 Years a Slave, which tells the harrowing true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He also created Small Axe, a collection of films celebrating the lives, experiences and contributions of Caribbean communities in Britain, including the story of the Mangrove Nine, who stood up against racist policing.

In 1999, Steve McQueen won the prestigious Turner Prize, and in 2020 he was knighted for his services to film.

For me, what makes Steve McQueen so important is that he uses his platform to tell our stories, challenge injustice and bring Black history to the forefront. His work reminds us why representation matters and why it is so important that our history, struggles and achievements are recognised, taught and never forgotten. Our stories deserve to be told, heard and remembered.✊🏽❤️

💚✊🏽Dame Elizabeth AnionwuDame Elizabeth Anionwu is a remarkable Black British woman who has dedicated her life to improv...
10/10/2026

💚✊🏽Dame Elizabeth Anionwu

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu is a remarkable Black British woman who has dedicated her life to improving healthcare and challenging inequality. Born in Birmingham in 1947 to a Nigerian father and Irish mother, she overcame a difficult childhood to become one of the most influential nurses in British history.

In 1979, she became Britain’s first specialist sickle cell and thalassaemia nurse, helping to improve care and support for families affected by these conditions, particularly within Black communities.

But Elizabeth’s work goes beyond nursing. She has been a passionate advocate for equality in healthcare and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the inequalities Black people experience within the medical system. She also campaigned for greater recognition of Mary Seacole and her contribution to nursing.

Her achievements earned her a Damehood in 2017, recognising her outstanding contribution to nursing and her work supporting the Mary Seacole statue campaign.

For me, Elizabeth Anionwu’s story is a powerful reminder of what determination, education and using your voice for change can achieve. Her legacy is not just about the lives she has helped save, but also about challenging a system and making sure Black communities are seen, heard and properly cared for.

This is Black British history worth knowing, celebrating and passing on to the next generation. ❤️✊🏽

✊🏽💚Roy Hackett Roy Hackett was a Jamaican-born British civil rights activist who played a huge part in the fight against...
08/10/2026

✊🏽💚Roy Hackett

Roy Hackett was a Jamaican-born British civil rights activist who played a huge part in the fight against racism in Britain. He was one of the key figures behind the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, which challenged the racist policy that prevented Black and Asian people from being employed as bus drivers and conductors.

Alongside other campaigners, Roy helped organise a boycott that lasted for four months, refusing to accept discrimination as something Black people simply had to live with. Their determination eventually forced the bus company to change its policy, helping pave the way for greater racial equality in Britain.

Roy’s contribution went beyond the boycott. He also worked to improve opportunities for Black communities and helped establish what became St Paul’s Carnival in Bristol, celebrating Caribbean culture and heritage.

As someone who believes deeply in anti-racism and education, I think it is important that we remember people like Roy Hackett. Racial equality did not just happen; people fought for it. We owe it to those who came before us to learn their stories, recognise their sacrifices and understand that the fight against racism is far from over.

Roy Hackett helped make history, and his legacy deserves to be remembered.💚✊🏽

✊🏽💚Diane AbbottWhy Diane Abbott Matters to Black British HistoryWhen we talk about Black British history, we have to tal...
06/10/2026

✊🏽💚Diane Abbott

Why Diane Abbott Matters to Black British History

When we talk about Black British history, we have to talk about Diane Abbott.

In 1987, Diane Abbott became the first Black woman ever elected to the British Parliament. Alongside Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant, she was one of the first Black British MPs elected at a time when there was very little Black representation in British politics.

But Diane Abbott’s importance goes beyond simply being the first.

For nearly four decades, she has occupied a space that Black women had historically been excluded from. She entered a political system where Black voices, and particularly Black women’s voices, were rarely heard at the highest levels.

She has spoken publicly and consistently about racism, racial inequality, policing, education, immigration, civil liberties and the experiences of Black communities. She has also campaigned around issues affecting Black children and young people and has worked to bring attention to conditions such as sickle cell and thalassaemia.

Her journey has not always been easy. As the first Black woman elected to Parliament, she has experienced an enormous amount of scrutiny, criticism and racist abuse throughout her career. That is part of the wider story of what it can mean to be a Black woman stepping into spaces where historically there have been very few people who look like you.

And this is why representation matters.

Representation isn’t about putting someone in a position simply because they are Black. It is about recognising that Black people have always been part of Britain, have contributed to Britain and deserve to see themselves represented within the institutions that shape British society.

Diane Abbott opened a door that had never previously been opened for a Black British woman.

Whether people agree with every political position she has taken or not, her place in British history cannot be separated from that fact.

For me, as a Black woman who spends a lot of my time educating others about racism, representation and Black British history, I think it is important that we remember the people who broke barriers before us.

Because when we teach the next generation about Black history, we shouldn’t only tell them about what happened to Black people.

We should also tell them about the Black people who changed what was possible.

Diane Abbott is one of those people.✊🏽❤️

Sir. Trevor McDonald ✊🏽🖤💚❤️Sir Trevor McDonald is a Trinidadian-born British journalist and one of the most recognisable...
05/10/2026

Sir. Trevor McDonald ✊🏽🖤💚❤️

Sir Trevor McDonald is a Trinidadian-born British journalist and one of the most recognisable figures in British television history. Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1939, he moved to Britain in 1969 and went on to build an extraordinary career in journalism.

In 1973, he joined ITN, becoming its first Black reporter. He later became the face of ITV’s News at Ten, making history as one of the most prominent Black news presenters in Britain.

His importance goes far beyond reading the news. At a time when Black people were significantly underrepresented in mainstream British television, Sir Trevor McDonald broke barriers and challenged perceptions of who could occupy positions of authority and influence. His professionalism, intelligence and calm presence helped make him a trusted household name across generations.

He also interviewed some of the most significant figures in world history, including Nelson Mandela shortly after his release from prison in 1990. In 1999, he was knighted for his services to journalism.

For us,recognising Sir Trevor McDonald during Black History Month is about acknowledging the people who helped pave the way for others. Representation matters. Seeing a Black man succeed at the highest levels of British broadcasting challenged stereotypes and showed future generations what was possible.

His legacy reminds us that Black history is not just about the past; it is about recognising the people who have shaped our present and opened doors for those who will follow.

We must continue to recognise, celebrate and teach these stories, because representation, visibility and history matter. 🖤💚❤️✊🏽

✊🏽❤️Mary SeacoleWhen we talk about Black British history, Mary Seacole is a woman whose story deserves to be remembered....
02/10/2026

✊🏽❤️Mary Seacole

When we talk about Black British history, Mary Seacole is a woman whose story deserves to be remembered.

Born in Jamaica in 1805, Mary was the daughter of a Jamaican mother who practised traditional medicine and a Scottish soldier. From a young age, she learned about caring for the sick and developed her own knowledge of medicines and remedies.

During the Crimean War, Mary travelled to Britain hoping to join the official nursing effort. She was refused. But being told no didn’t stop her.

Mary funded her own journey to Crimea, where she established the British Hotel, providing food, supplies and medical care to soldiers. She would walk onto the battlefield to care for wounded men, without hesitation,putting herself in dangerous situations to help others.

What we find particularly powerful about Mary Seacole’s story is her determination. She faced harsh racism and rejection, that didn’t stop her , she continued to use her skills, compassion and courage to make a difference.

After the war, Mary returned to Britain and faced financial hardship. Soldiers who remembered the care she had given them helped raise money for her.

Mary Seacole died in London in 1881, aged 76.

Her story reminds us that Black history is British history — and that Black women have been shaping, serving and contributing to Britain for generations.

This Black History Month, let’s continue telling the stories that deserve to be heard. ✊🏽💚

01/10/2026

✊🏽🖤❤️💚 Happy Black History Month

Throughout the month we will be sharing information,facts and stories about many black British scholars,activists,academics,poets,actors,writers,musicians and trail blazers… people who have paved the way and made an impact , and People who deserve to be celebrated , remembered and honoured.

Black British history is what this month is all
About and although we do teach,learn and spread love 365 days a year,this month in particular is a time to really rejoice and celebrate just how Brilliant we are ! We have so much to celebrate..Happy Black History Month ✊🏽🖤❤️💚

22/09/2026

💖

22/09/2026

💖Black Maternal
Mental health week 💖

forblackwomen

Address

Bury St. Edmunds
IP32

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category