Black History Month is a month of events that run throughout October and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Black and mixed heritage communities worldwide.
To get involved with Black History Month at Activate Learning, please keep an eye and connect with us on social media using the #BHMatAL hashtag.
The theme for Black History Month 2026 is ‘Honouring Our Communities’, recognising the Black people and communities whose contributions shape, support and sustain everyday life. This year, we celebrate the people whose impact can be seen across our workplaces, education, culture and communities, including those whose contributions too often go unseen.
There is a wealth of media available that explores and celebrates Black history, heritage, culture and lived experiences, while also shining a light on the challenges and inequalities faced by Black and mixed heritage communities.
To mark Black History Month, our students and staff have shared some of their favourite films, TV programmes, documentaries and podcasts to watch and listen to.
Films, TV shows and documentaries we’d recommend for Black History Month
Here are some of our favourite films, TV shows, documentaries and podcasts to watch during Black History Month, as recommended by our students and staff:
Films for Black History Month
Hidden Figures
Based on a true story, Hidden Figures follows three brilliant Black women mathematicians whose work at NASA played a vital role in the Space Race, while exploring the racial and gender barriers they faced along the way.
Watch Hidden Figures on Disney Plus.
The Help
Set in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, The Help follows a young white aspiring writer who documents the experiences of Black domestic workers employed by white families. Through their stories, the film explores racism, discrimination and the inequalities they face in their everyday lives.
Watch The Help on Disney Plus.
Get Out
Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Get Out is a psychological horror-thriller following Chris as he visits the family of his white girlfriend, Rose, for the first time. As the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. The film uses horror and satire to explore racism, the fetishisation and commodification of Black identity, and the legacy of slavery in modern society.
Hamilton
Hamilton is a musical retelling of the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, featuring a predominantly Black, Asian and ethnically diverse cast portraying historical figures traditionally depicted as white. Blending hip-hop, R&B, soul and traditional musical theatre, the production explores revolution, ambition, identity and the complexities of building and leaving a legacy.
Watch Hamilton on Disney Plus.
Bob Marley One Love
Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, Bob Marley: One Love explores the life and career of the legendary Jamaican musician, from his rise to international fame to his death in 1981. The film explores his personal struggles, relationships and experiences, while tracing the stories and influences behind some of his most famous songs and his enduring cultural legacy.
Watch Bob Marley One Love on Prime.
Harriet
Based on the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, Harriet tells the story of her escape from slavery and her extraordinary efforts to help others reach freedom through the Underground Railroad. The film explores themes of courage, resistance and freedom, while portraying the brutality of slavery and Tubman’s lasting impact on American history.
TV shows for BHM
Black and Proud
Black and Proud is a collection of films and tv programmes from the Channel celebrating Black lives and culture, spanning British history, comedy, entertainment, drama, documentaries and film.
Watch Black and Proud of Channel 4.
Noughts + Crosses
Based on Malorie Blackman’s acclaimed novels, Noughts + Crosses is a dystopian drama set in an alternative London where Black people form the ruling elite and white people face discrimination and inequality. At its heart is the relationship between Sephy and Callum, whose love develops across a deeply divided society. The series explores racism, privilege, prejudice, power and social inequality.
Watch Noughts + Crosses on BBC iPlayer.
I May Destroy You
Created by and starring Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You follows a young Black writer navigating life in London after experiencing sexual assault. The powerful drama explores trauma, consent and recovery alongside themes of race, identity, sexuality and relationships.
Watch I May Destroy You on BBC iPlayer.
Documentaries for BHM
Black and British – A Forgotten History
In this documentary series, historian David Olusoga explores the long and complex history of Black people in Britain. From the presence of Africans in Roman Britain and the impact of slavery and empire to Black servicemen and sailors who fought for Britain, the series uncovers often overlooked stories and examines the events and experiences that have shaped Black British identity.
Watch Black and British – A Forgotten History on BBC iPlayer.
Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle
Follow the story of Eunice as she navigates life as a Black woman in post-war Britain, exploring her experiences of identity, belonging and community against the backdrop of a changing society.
Watch Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle on BBC iPlayer.
Books we’d recommend for Black History Month
There are so many fantastic books available to help us learn more about Black history, heritage, culture and lived experiences.
Here are some of our students’ and staff members’ favourite reads. If you’re studying at an Activate Learning college, you can find these titles and many more via our Learning Environments.
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give follows 16-year-old Starr Carter, who finds herself caught between two very different worlds: her predominantly Black neighbourhood and the affluent school she attends.
When Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil by a police officer, she must decide whether to speak out. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the novel explores racism, inequality, identity, activism and the fight for justice.
12 Years a Slave – Soloman Northup
In this powerful memoir, Solomon Northup recounts his experience of being kidnapped as a free Black man in 1841 and forced into slavery in Louisiana for 12 years.
First published after he regained his freedom in 1853, his first-hand account documents the brutality and injustice of slavery, as well as his determination to survive and return to his family.
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
Kathryn Stockett’s The Help follows Aibileen and Minny, two Black domestic workers in 1960s Mississippi, and Skeeter, a young white woman who returns home from college.
As their lives become intertwined, the three women work together to document the experiences of Black maids working for white families. The novel explores racism, inequality, friendship and the courage involved in challenging the social boundaries of the time.
Small Island – Andrea Levy
Andrea Levy’s Small Island is set in post-war Britain and follows the interconnected lives of Jamaican and British characters, including Gilbert, a former RAF serviceman who returns to England, and Queenie, who welcomes Jamaican lodgers into her London home.
Against the backdrop of the arrival of the Windrush generation, the novel explores racism, identity, belonging, migration and the realities of life in Britain after the Second World War.
The Long Song – Andrea Levy
Andrea Levy’s The Long Song follows July, an enslaved woman living on a sugar plantation in 19th-century Jamaica, during the final years of slavery.
Set against the backdrop of the 1831 Baptist War and the abolition of slavery, the novel explores the lives of July, her family and those around her, examining slavery, colonialism, resistance, freedom and survival.
Martin Luther King – Christine Hatt
This biography explores the life and legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and his role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Using primary evidence and questions for discussion and debate, the book examines the history of slavery and racial inequality in the United States, the struggle for civil and political rights, King’s commitment to non-violent protest, his opposition to the Vietnam War and the events leading to his assassination in 1968.
Rosa Parks and her protest for civil rights: 1 December 1955 – Phillip Steele
This accessible title explores Rosa Parks’ role in the American Civil Rights Movement, focusing on her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955.
It examines the events leading up to her arrest, the wider context of racial segregation and the impact her protest had on the growing movement for civil rights in the United States.
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart follows Okonkwo, a respected warrior and leader in an Igbo community in what is now Nigeria. When he returns from exile to find European missionaries and colonial authorities transforming his community, he struggles to reconcile the world he knew with the changes taking place around him.
The novel explores identity, tradition, colonialism, power and the profound impact of cultural change.
Refugee Boy – Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy follows Alem, a young boy with an Ethiopian father and Eritrean mother whose family is caught between two countries at war. After being left alone in London, Alem must navigate the asylum system and build a new life in an unfamiliar country.
The novel explores displacement, identity, belonging, prejudice and the experiences of young refugees.
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple follows Celie, a young Black woman growing up in the American South in the early 20th century. Through experiences of abuse, racism, poverty and separation from her family, Celie gradually discovers her own strength, independence and sense of identity.
The novel explores race, gender, relationships, resilience and empowerment.
Empire Windrush – Onyekachi Wambu
This anthology charts 50 years of Caribbean migration to Britain, beginning with the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948.
Through a collection of voices and experiences, it explores the profound impact of the Windrush generation on British society, culture and identity, as well as the challenges of racism, discrimination and belonging.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
In the first volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou reflects on her childhood and adolescence in 1930s America. Through her experiences of racism, discrimination, poverty and trauma, as well as love, hope and achievement, Angelou explores themes of identity, resilience, dignity and finding her own voice.
Gather Together in my Name – Maya Angelou
In the second volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou reflects on her experiences as a young Black mother navigating life in post-war America.
Following the events of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou writes candidly about poverty, relationships, work and the difficult choices she faced while trying to build a life for herself and her son.
The memoir explores identity, survival, resilience and the complexities of early adulthood.
All God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes – Maya Angelou
In the fifth volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou reflects on her time living in Ghana and her search for a deeper connection with Africa.
Through her experiences, she explores identity, belonging, friendship and the relationship between African and Black American experiences, while confronting the legacies of slavery and examining her own ideas about heritage and what it means to call somewhere home.
Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela’s autobiography recounts his extraordinary life, from his early years and fight against apartheid in South Africa to his 27 years of imprisonment and eventual release.
Through his personal experiences, Mandela explores themes of racism, injustice, sacrifice, resilience and reconciliation, offering an insight into the struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa.
Beloved – Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s Beloved follows Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman living in the aftermath of slavery in 19th-century America. Haunted by the trauma of her past and the loss of her daughter, Sethe is forced to confront painful memories when a mysterious young woman named Beloved enters her life.
Blending history with elements of the supernatural, the novel explores slavery, motherhood, memory, identity, trauma and the lasting impact of oppression.
On Beauty – Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith’s On Beauty follows the lives of two very different families, the Belseys and the Kipps, whose personal, academic and political disagreements repeatedly bring them into conflict.
Set primarily in New England, the novel explores family, relationships, race, identity, class, culture and the tensions between our ideals and the realities of everyday life.
Knife Edge – Malorie Blackman
The second novel in Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses series continues Sephy’s story as she raises her daughter in a deeply divided society where Black Crosses hold power and white noughts face discrimination. Meanwhile, Jude struggles with anger and grief following the losses his family has endured.
The novel explores prejudice, inequality, identity, family, revenge and the consequences of a society divided by race and power.
Forge – Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson’s Forge follows Curzon and Isabel as they continue their fight for freedom during the American Revolutionary War. After becoming separated, Curzon joins the American army at Valley Forge, only for both characters to find themselves facing enslavement once again.
The novel explores slavery, freedom, survival, friendship and the contradictions between America’s fight for independence and the continued enslavement of Black people.
Dreams from My Father – Barack Obama
In Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama reflects on his early life and his search for a deeper understanding of his identity and family history. From his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia to his journey to Kenya to learn more about his father and African heritage, the memoir explores race, family, belonging, heritage and what it means to navigate multiple cultures and identities.
Half of a Yellow Sun – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun follows the intertwined lives of Ugwu, Olanna and Richard against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War. As conflict transforms their lives and relationships, the novel explores colonialism, identity, class, love, loyalty and the devastating human impact of war.
Cry, the Beloved Country – Alan Paton
Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country follows Reverend Stephen Kumalo, a Black South African priest who travels to Johannesburg in search of his son and other family members. His journey becomes intertwined with that of a white farmer following a devastating tragedy.
Set in South Africa before apartheid was formally introduced, the novel explores racial inequality, poverty, injustice, family, faith and the social divisions shaping the country.
The Essential Black Literature Guide – Roger M Valade
This reference guide brings together 450 authors, literary works and movements that highlight the breadth, diversity and influence of Black literature. It offers readers an accessible way to discover important writers, texts and traditions while exploring the contribution of Black voices to literature and culture.
Audiobooks, music and podcasts for Black History Month
Audiobooks for Black History Month
Podcasts for Black History Month
Songs To Live by on BBC Sounds is a celebration of Black culture through the music we love, presented by Vick Hope.
Playlists for Black History Month
The National Museum of African American Music celebrates Black History Month with a variety of playlists:
Discover free BorrowBox resources for Black History Month
You can utilise your free BorroxBox account for a wealth of resources to help you understand why Black History Month is so important and what you can do to support and celebrate it.
Our Learning Environments team have put together a diverse and thought-provoking choice of over eBooks and Audiobooks, all of which are accessible via our BorrowBox App.
These include:
- Don’t Touch My Hair
- Black British Lives Matter
- Colour Outside the Lines
- The Bluest Eye
- Becoming
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave
- A Raisin in the Sun
- Grown
- Girl, Woman, Other
- The Good Immigrant
BorrowBox is free for you to access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can access all of the above Black History Month resources via Borrowbox.
To get involved with Black History Month at Activate Learning, please join us on social media using the #BHMatAL hashtag.
