• The origins of BHM go back to 1926 when Carter G Woodson, editor for thirty years of the Journal of Negro History, established African Caribbean celebrations in America. It is still celebrated there in February each year.
• In Britain, BHM celebrations started in 1987, 20th anniversary in 2007

SOME IMPORTANT TIMELINE

Septimus Severus (145-211)

African-born Roman emperor Septimus Severus ruled the Roman empire in AD193-211. He was one of a number of Roman emperors born in Africa. The reign of Severus saw Rome briefly return to glory. He spent most of his reign quelling revolts (including in England) and died in York.

African-born Quintus Lollius Urbicus became the governor of the Roman province of Britannia. He led a number of campaigns on and around Hadrian’s Wall.

Kingdom of Ghana (400)

First large sub-Saharan state established. Archaeological evidence suggests that Ghana had achieved a high level of civilisation before Arab travellers arrived around 750AD (advanced metalworking, an indigenous trading network). Its capital, Koumbi Saleh, had a population of 30,000. A 12th-century Muslim, al-Idrisi, told Norman king Roger II in Sicily that the Ghanian nobility gave sumptuous banquets with thousands of guests.

Great Zimbabwe (1100)

Massive stone structures in Zimbabwe show that a civilisation flourished around this time. Although these ruins are very impressive, with a great wall measuring 246m long, this ancient city is just one of many in the region. More than 600 stone ruins have been identified in modern-day Zimbabwe and nearly 7,500 have been found in northern South Africa.

1241

Earliest image of a black Briton 

This picture was discovered in an abbreviated part of the Domesd ay  Book used to collect taxes.

Kingdom of Kongo (13 50)

The highly cent ralised state is established during this period and is surrounded by the formidable kingdoms of Teke, Tio, Dembo and Ndongo. One of its kings, Mani Kongo Diogo I, tried unsuccessfully to stop the Atlantic slave trade.

1508

A black presence

A poem by William Dunbar called Ane Blak-Moir suggests that there were black people in Britain during this period.

1562

First English slave trade expedition

John Hawkins is the first Englishman to lead a slave trading voyage from the west coast of Africa. Later, Britain would become one of the biggest players in the Atlantic slave trade which led to the enforced transportation of 13 million Africans (according to a recent estimate). In spite of high mortality rates, the enslaved African population produced 1 million tonnes of sugar between 1766 and 1791 in the Americas. There are now a number of exhibitions across the UK that detail the close connection between the growth of cities — such as London, Bristol and Liverpool — and the Atlantic slave trade.

Slavery was legalised in 1672

1739

Maroon victory

After a long standing war the Maroons (run away slaves) defeated General Trelawney, a British general, to sign a peace agreement in Jamaica

1780

King Sugar

Sugar fuelled the Atlantic slave trade as more and more slaves were needed to maintain Britain’s demand for sugar.

1781

African thrown overboard Captain Collingwood throws 132 sick African off the ship Zong to collect insurance money for them. This helped galvanise support for the anti-slavery movement.

1791

The Haitian revolution

After a 12-year struggle in which thousands of formerly enslaved Africans overcame the British, Spanish and Napoleonic French armies, the first independent black republic in the Americas is established. Motivated by ideas of the French revolution and led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, Dessalines and Petion, this revolution destroys slavery in the most profitable French colony.

William Wordsworth later dedicated a poem to L’Ouverture, including the lines:

“There is not a breathing of the common wind ...

That will forget thee ... thou hast great allies

... exultations, agonies, love and man’s

unconquerable mind.”

1807

Abolition of the Slave Trade Act

The British slave trade is abolished in parliament on March 25. However, many slave traders discover ways to circumvent the new law.

1834

Slavery Abolished in Britain

An apprenticeship had to be served until 1838 by the formerly enslaved Africans. The owners received £20m in compensation. The freed slaves received nothing.

1863

Abolition of slavery in the US

Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. Many free African Americans and runaway slaves join the Union armies in the ongoing American civil war. Slavery is formally abolished after the war ends, in 1865.

1912