Pedestrian crossings in pan-African colours celebrate Black History in London this month

Rainbow pedestrian crossings celebrating Pride have been replaced with the pan-African colours, pictured left, to celebrate Black History Month, writes Rafi Benady.

Black History Month takes place in October each year. The crossings are in Greenwich, covering the districts Woolwich, Greenwich, Plumstead town centres, with an additional one in Charlton.

They were launched to celebrate Pride earlier this year.

Various events are lined up to celebrate Black History Month across the borough, most of which are free.

These include an African card-making workshop, a talk on black entrepreneurs in history, and a Martin Luther King tribute.

There will also be children’s workshops and poetry events. Councillor Miranda Williams, cabinet member for culture, leisure and the third sector, said: “Black History Month is essential in promoting learning, providing information and contributing to community cohesion.

“People from all different walks of life live in Greenwich and it’s important that all our young residents are inspired by people they can relate to and see stories that mirror their own experience.”

The crossings are funded by U+I, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Hospital Trust, the University of Greenwich and Berkeley Group and Peabody.

There will be an opportunity to celebrate stories from Greenwich residents, and to listen to music from Europe’s first majority BME orchestra Chineke! tomorrow.

You can also see the Caribbean Social Forum’s exhibition from Motherland to Mother Country at the official Royal Borough of Greenwich Black History Month event, also tomorrow, at Woolwich Town Hall.

Tickets are free but places are limited so reserve your place on Eventbrite. BME orchestra Chineke! will also be running workshops in schools across the borough.