In the early twentieth century, Black communities in the United States marked the February birthdays of social reformer and civil rights activist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln as moments to celebrate emancipation and self-determination.
In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, driven by what he saw as an urgent need to recognise African American history in its own right. In doing so, Woodson became known as the “father of Black history” and laid the foundations for what would become Black History Month — formally recognised in the United States in 1976 and in the UK in October 1987.
Now observed around the world, Black History Month takes place at different times of year, explores a range of themes, and reflects diverse legacies. Yet its fundamental principles remain consistent: that Black history must have a recognised place within cultural calendars, and that institutional structures are needed to sustain this recognition.
Marking these significant anniversaries, Scrap It, Revamp It explores a pocket history of Black History Month — its international legacy and its future within the arts, academia and the media.
The exhibition is free to visit from February to December 2026 during the opening hours of the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.
Image credit: Frederick Douglass, c.1879. National Archives FL-FL-22.
More Leicester Listings MORE
Scrap It, Revamp It: 100 Years of Black History Commemorations (1926–2026)
In the early twentieth century, Black communities in the United States marked the February birthdays of social reformer…
International Women’s Day: We The People and In Conversation with Leila Hassan Howe
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, reaffirm commitments to gender equality, and call for…
Paul Simon’s Graceland Reimagined By The London African Gospel Choir
Prepare to be uplifted and inspired as the sensational London African Gospel Choir brings its acclaimed reimagining of…
Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2026 Launch
To mark International Dance Day and the launch of Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2026 (LDIF26), Serendipity Institute for…
Océan Brun – Compagnie Kaméléonite
In 2011, the once-clear waters of the Caribbean began to change colour as vast quantities of sargassum seaweed…
Signatures and the Black British Dance Platform (2026)
Signatures and the Black British Dance Platform are two internationally recognised performance platforms that celebrate the creativity, innovation…
Annual Windrush Day Lecture 2026
Windrush Day, officially recognised by the UK government since 2018, is commemorated annually on 22 June to mark…
Reel Histories 2026: Black Classics
Reel Histories 2026: Black Classics is a bold film programme for Black History Month 2026, amplifying the cinematic…