Black History Month
It’s Black History Month!
Even in our humble delivery area we interact with so many different cultures, as lifelong Londoners we love our city’s multiculturalism and the diversity that it has to offer.
In our communities there are many BAME led organisations that work to support not just ethnic minority groups but ALL people who require a little extra support. It is often harder for organisations servicing ethnic minority groups to be able to do this on a budget. Supporting culturally aware foods, much of which travels far and is relatively expensive, is very difficult for those organisations working on a budget.
Food always brings people together, and if you haven't had a chance to try some of the delicious food being served by the diverse London eateries, and black owned businesses especially, maybe now is a perfect chance to do so. I wish I could point you to one source of where to check out the best places, but it's impossible!
So a little shout out to Uptown Cuisine, Made in Hackney and Made up Kitchen.
As well as running his restaurant, Jeffrey at Uptown continues to support many community groups with free food in and around Haringey.
Across the road in Hackney, Made up Kitchen run a culturally aware community shop with a wide range of more exotic fresh produce at an affordable price.
Made in Hackney offer many community classes and great, affordable online cooking classes that often dive into different foods from around the world.
Black History Month celebrates the achievements and contributions of black people not just in the UK, but around the globe and educates on black history. It’s a month that gives an opportunity to explore, connect and get involved with black history through the many events happening around town and online. The Museum of London is running a free exhibition on black history in London. Also go check out blackhistorymonth.org.uk for lots more info around events in your area.
““Food & music are strong drum beats in the heart of black people””
We're celebrating BHM with our friends, Woodberry Aid. They were founded to meet the challenge of food poverty in their community, giving support to vulnerable children and those who are really struggling, i.e. single/low-income families, those who are waiting for universal credit decisions or no recourse to public funds, the isolated elderly and the homeless in our community. Woodberry Aid supports those in food poverty to become increasingly independent, confident and healthy by providing them with exactly the food parcel they need rather than an inadequate standardised parcel, and to cater to the specific cultural needs of the BAME community they offer provisions of food that meet these needs.
Come and join us on the Woodberry Down estate on the 26th October - why not pop along for a chat and a gingery apple juice!
And we’ll leave you with a poem by Godiva Chukwu that was shared with us:
The Blueprint
By Godiva Chukwu
My eyes brown but my heart gold
The sun, making honey pool swirls out of the gate to my soul.
My skin melanated
We’re created of the soil that bares minerals, diamonds, and other precious stones.
What magic do we possess?
Our gravity defying hair
The shades of our skin concealing the same things us humans have within
Our hearts that pump blood
Our lungs that breathe air
But nothing more can bring despair
The scars we wear
What makes us unique
The contribution we make to music culture our physique.
The things we make
They try to imitate
The hate that breaks the violence that shakes
Shaken, but not stirred
We are all of earth.
They have enslaved us
They have enraged us
But they have never broken us down
We are the blueprint
We are the strong
We are the chosen.
We are the part of the history of our people.
