While we might find the term Black History Month a bit dubious, relegating Black History to just one month a year doesn’t really make sense to us, we applaud every effort to educate (especially anyone for whom Black History month isn’t just January to December). And if you’re going to do it, do it right, like Birmingham Black History Month have. Here are our top 10 picks.

Homelands Showcase celebrates the influence of the parental heritage of four contemporary UK based black music artists via film and music. Featuring Grime MC Saskilla (Senegal), R&B Mercury Music nominee Terri Walker (Jamaica), producer Diztortion
Tue 18 Oct at The Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY. 8pm – 11pm, £5.

Herstory LIVE & Black Lives Matter Brum Exhibition Launch
A night of poetry, music and storytelling exploring the stories of an under represented diaspora. Featuring performances from Caleb Femi and Janel Antonisha, explore history, herstory and our stories through art/conversation and the launch of Black Lives Matter Brum’s city-wide exhibition.
Thu 20 Oct Centrala, Unit 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Digbeth. 6.30pm – 9.30pm. £5 OTD, £4 Early Bird via Eventbrite

Ticking all the right boxes by satisfying our penchant for a heartwarming tale and educating children simultaneously – check – are these two Screen Juniors sessions at the mac: Africa United offers up a day of entertainment and film screening where Three Rwandan children sneak onto a bus to the capital city Kiwali to audition for the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup before realising they’re on the wrong bus
Sat 22 Oct at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. A relaxed screening at 12pm and free activities from 11am – 2pm, £3.

Screen Juniors Felix: in this tale of Felix’s dream to become a world renowned saxophone player after Felix’s world is turned upside down when he leaves the comfort of Gugulethu township to take up a scholarship at a prestigious private school. This runs throughout the day.
Thu 27 Oct at mac (as above) 11am – 2pm, with a relaxed screening at 12pm, £3.

The black cult classic Jackie Brown also being screened at the mac highlights themes of systematic racism and feminism.
Sat 29 Oct, 5pm at mac (as above). £6 – £8.

Lovers Rock Monologues Tour. Lovers Rock icons, Carroll Thompson, Victor Romero Evans and Janet Kay come together to celebrate its golden years. The Lovers Rock Monologue fuses timeless music and theatrical storytelling, giving the audience a humorous and realistic account of the Lover’s Rock lifestyle.
Sat 22 Oct at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street Birmingham, B1 2EP 7.30pm – 11pm, £15

Sheroes of History
Naomi Wilcox-Lee from Sheroes of History will be sharing the stories of some inspiring blacksheroes. Come along and learn about ‘fastest woman on earth’ Wilma Rudolph, amazing aviatrix – Bessie Coleman and more. This event is suitable for children 5+ and their families.
Thu 27 Oct 2pm, South Yardley Library, Yardley Road, Birmingham, B25 8LT. FREE

Black History Family Day featuring Black icons, arts auction, free arts and craft activities for children, craft stalls, refreshments, performances and music.
Sat 29 Oct at Nubyond Universal Creativity Unit 4 The Square, Broad Street, 12pm – 6pm, FREE

Nubyond and Inspiring A New Generation Black History Family Day
Join us at a Cultural Family Day to celebrate the end of Black History Month. View a range of paintings from local Black artists and participate in Birmingham’s Black Arts Auction. Enjoy free arts and craft activities for children, workshops, cultural market arena, refreshments and performances.
Sat 29 Oct 12pm – 6pm, Nubyond Universal Creativity, Unit 4 The Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1AS FREE

Skye Ross from Morcheeba Skye Edwards, Morcheeba’s singer/composer and Ross Godfrey, guitarist/composer/producer have produced a new album with their signature mix of influences from trip hop and blues to downtempo soul.
Sun 30 Oct, Bramall Hall, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 7.30pm, £21.

For the full details and listings of events during Black History Month please visit: www.birminghamblackhistorymonth.co.uk