Black History Month 2021 #ProudToBe

During Black History Month, we are proud to be celebrating our new partnership with The Well – a powerful initiative working with Black Christians and Black Majority Churches to help tackle extreme poverty and injustice. Here, two of our friends from The Well Team reflect on what they are Proud To Be.

Misha

I am Proud To Be the granddaughter of first-generation immigrants.

This year’s Black History Month is about celebration, and it's the first time in my thirty-two years that I have seen it as a celebration. In previous years, I have always felt the trauma of black plight and struggle, but this year is different.

In March 2021, I rediscovered my love affair with nostalgia, and I found myself looking for old photos of my childhood and my parents' life before I was born. The more attention I poured into exploring the legacy of my family, the more I realised how steep the richness of grace and anointing there had to have been on the journey they made by coming to Britain and setting up a church.

My grandparents settled in Archway (North London) because it was the place they could afford. Throughout the 1960s to ’90s, Archway had a working-class community where neighbours looked after each other. With a high population of immigrants from Irish and Caribbean backgrounds, I imagine that it was one of the most diverse communities in London. This also made it a safe space for me growing up. I was afforded the luxury of the fellowship of church and allyship in this community and, through that, felt the love of Christ. Together, my grandparents established themselves in British society. Thankfully, people in Britain no longer have to contend with ‘NO BLACKS, NO DOGS, NO IRISH’ signs, but we still have a long way to go.

I am Proud To Be, a follower of Christ and a descendent of a pastor, and, like him, I sit at the feet of Jesus for my instruction and inspiration.

Leona

Every day I'm Proud To Be the mother of my incredible son, Tariq, 21. His dad died in 2020 and it's been a tough time. However, he still has time to show love, is always appreciative, supportive and about to buy his first home. I'm blessed to have him in my life and to have grown an amazing young king!

I'm Proud To Be a big sister. In 1989, we moved to Milton Keynes and experienced years of racism, not being allowed to play in the park and having bananas thrown at us. I defended my two sisters and myself, for which my sisters are very thankful.

I'm Proud To Be strong and push myself physically and mentally to raise money for charitable causes where possible and, thank the Lord, I have the strength to keep going. The years of struggle, discrimination and pain I have experienced have made me the strong, educated, positive and ambitious woman I am today.

The Well is an exciting new initiative created with, by and for Black Majority Churches. Our vision is to engage and collaborate with Black Christians, communities, and churches throughout the UK, in a unified, hope-filled response to issues of global poverty, injustice and inequality.