Music, poetry and art: TfL makes plans to celebrate Black History Month

Transport for London (TfL) is marking Black History Month this October, during the 75th Windrush anniversary year, with a leaflet of black poetry, performances and displays.

Black History Month every October is the annual celebration of the invaluable contributions of black people.

A range of initiatives, performances and displays are taking place across London’s transport network to mark the month.

A leaflet of poems by black poets will be available at most London Underground stations, bringing together works that have featured on TfL’s Poems on the Underground programme over the years, including works by Benjamin Zephaniah, Lemn Sissay and Grace Nichols.

The poems, estimated to have reached millions of people travelling on the network, give valuable insight into the complexities of black history.

Brixton Tube station will be hosting a photo series celebrating black women members of TfL staff working across the organisation.

Entitled Saluting Our Sisters, the work sees each featured woman share their achievements and aspirations both inside and outside the workplace. These will be unveiled at Brixton Tube station on Tuesday.

London Overground will put on four DJ sets over the course of the month, with Arriva Rail London (ARL) Service Delivery Manager Bentley Brooks taking to the decks as Bentley B at Shoreditch High Street, Shepherd’s Bush, White Hart Lane and Dalston Junction railway stations.

A variety of music from Africa, the Caribbean and the US will be played.

ARL staff will hand out books by black authors and Black History Month-themed tote bags and key rings to customers and local schools on the London Overground network.

A double-decker bus wrapped in a striking design honouring the Windrush generation has entered daily service, having formed part of the TfL, Lagniappe Mas band and Windrush Generation Legacy Association’s float at the Notting Hill Carnival.

Designed by artist Baraka Carberry, the wrap celebrates the culture, community and colours of the carnival and the 75-year history of Windrush, in a vibrant, richly-layered design.

The bus is in service on route 40, between Clerkenwell Green and Dulwich, with the wrap to remain in place throughout Black History Month and into the New Year.

Patricia Obinna, TfL’s director of diversity and inclusion, said: “The experiences and contribution of our Black colleagues and our colleagues from other ethnic minority backgrounds should be recognised and celebrated all year round.

“During Black History Month we especially want people to come together to acknowledge the incredible contributions of black people in London and beyond.

“This is especially pertinent this year during the 75th Windrush anniversary, so we will be marking this month with a varied programme of events, including poetry, art and music on our transport network from inspirational black artists.”

Pictured top: Saluting Our Sisters, TfL pays homage to women in the transport network workplace (Picture: TfL)