Black History 365

What's on
A woman standing at a lecturn holding a mic and wearing a headwrap.

Welcome to Hackney Black History 365. Here you will find events, educational resources and information on how to celebrate Black history and culture on a year-round basis.

You can also find information on our annual Black History Season, which honours the national Black History Month of October with an extended programme of community-funded events, and a schools programme to support teachers with enriched Black history resources.

Find out more

If you’re hosting a Hackney-based event that celebrates Black history or culture, complete this form for the opportunity to appear in our listings.

Check out our Black History Season grant winners below and stay tuned for more funding opportunities for 2026.

Black History Season 2025: Meet our grant winners!

  • Three women with colourful headwraps

    Cultural Fashion & Arts CIC

    Cultural Fashion & Arts hosted two buzzing workshops combining an educational presentation with hands-on headwrap lessons at Hackney Museum. @Culturalfashionandarts

  • A woman with a scarf in front of her face

    Dance Ups

    Dance Ups’ series of workshops culminated in a vibrant showcase where young girls celebrated African heritage and self-empowerment through dance. @Danceups.uk

  • Two people smiling at the camera

    Faggamuffin Bloc Party

    Faggamuffin Bloc Party celebrated Black British identity through carnival culture, centering LGBTQ+ visibility through workshops and talks. @faggamuffinblocparty

  • A piece of paper with a picture of Claudia Jones and a coaster next to it

    More Curricular CIC

    Across three imaginative walks, teams took part in a quest dedicated to Hackney’s Black history in Dalston and Stoke Newington. Prizes were won! @More_curricular

  • Two people. One with a painted white face and a black and white spotted top. The other with a headband putting white paint onto someone's face.

    Rio Cinema

    Rio Cinema had a full Carnival takeover thanks to the films of Shari Petti, Horace Over and workshops from Tropical Isles!

  • A woman wearing a dress holding up some artwork in front of an exhibition

    Urban MBA

    Complementing a two week exhibition, Urban MBA hosted a creative AI workshop, 'Digital Diaspora: Past, Present & Future' and created digital art inspired by Black heroes. @urbanmba

  • Three people standing side by side in front of some doors

    June Givanni Archive

    The June Givanni Pan African Cinema Archive revisited the 1984-85 GLC Anti-Racist Film Programme followed by a screening of Coconut Head Generation at the Rio. Riveting discussions were had!

On now & coming up

Whats on
Windrush Amplified Art display: Jazz Grant
Nov 26
V&A East Storehouse
Windrush Amplified Art display: Jazz Grant
V&A East Storehouse
V&A East Storehouse
All events

Black History Season reading list

Hackney Libraries are spotlighting a selection of brilliant African writers who have taken the publishing market by storm in the last few months. We have collected together some of the most inspiring fiction, non-fiction and poetry from 2024 and early 2025.

Book cover showing a person in a white vest against blue background.
Read on

Hackney Black History 365

  • A black and white image of a doorway. Surrounding the door is an arch and the windows have playing card style display in them with an awning over the top of the door with a playing card design on.

    Hackney Museum: Explore Hackney history

    Did you know you can search Hackney Museum’s collections for items that help tell the story of Hackney’s Black communities? What will you find?

    Explore more
  • Two women dressed in brightly colours smiling and dancing together. One wears a crochet pink and cream hat with an orange dress and white flowers. The other wears a striped red scary and red blouse.

    Hackney Windrush

    Hackney’s ongoing commitment to the Windrush Generation and their descendants. Information on the festival in June, plus access to resources and support.

    More info
  • A black and white photo of a group of Black people standing on the street some with dreads, some with short afros and hats smile at the camera

    The story behind BRAFA Square

    Find out more about the story behind the name and what came to be known as ‘Hackney’s answer to Live Aid’ in 1985.

    More info
  • A woman in black sunglasses and coat holds a green piece of fruit and stands between green fruit-like sculptures. Behind here a group of people stand smiling at her.

    Black History 365 YouTube playlist

    Revisit some of the most significant moments of our borough from Veronica Ryan’s sculpture unveiling to our legendary Windrush Day parties.

    Watch now
  • A young boy in school uniform hunched over a piece of paper with a crayon in his hand

    Hackney's Diverse Curriculum

    Devised by teachers ‘Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution’ provides free resources for Early Years through to KS3 and 4.

    More info
  • A black and white photo in three parts. The first is a man dressed smartly in suit leaving his house. In the middle a woman standing proudly in a wedding dress holding a bouquet. On the right a man dressed casually in a cardigan walking along

    Hackney's African and Caribbean history

    Hackney Museum's trove of fascinating stories from its African and Caribbean communities. Visit their website to find out more…

    More info

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