Black History Month 2024 at MOD

October marks Black History Month, providing an opportunity for everyone to share, celebrate and understand the impact of Black heritage and culture, recognising the contributions Black people have made and how they have shaped society.

This month’s theme is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ and marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture, highlighting a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage.

Black History Month is a chance to celebrate and learn from our colleagues’ black history, heritage and culture and the legacy of iconic figures. But it is so much more than a time to reflect on the past. It is a chance to see what Defence is doing now to build a better tomorrow and to look to the future and understand what actions we can take to enact change.

Throughout October a number of events are being held across defence for all colleagues to participate in and learn more, from panel discussions and talks on Debunking the myth of race; lunch and learns; interactive workshops; culture sessions and talks on changing narratives through learning.

The MOD had a number of Civil Service Race networks to join including the Civil Service Race Forum, a collaborative group of Civil Service Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff networks working towards advancing diversity and equality for ethnic minorities in the Civil Service, partner organisations and its arms-length bodies. For those at Grade 6 and Grade 7, Race to the Top G7/6 is a community of BAME Grade 6 and 7 Civil Servants, with the intention to help BAME G6/7’s thrive and progress helping address underrepresentation in the Senior Civil Service, supporting members and preparing them for leadership.