Black History Month

Some thoughts for Black History Month

There are many fine BAME poets writing today.

We particularly admire Patience Agbabi and Grace Nichols.

For copyright reasons we are unable to post any of their poems here.

But they can be found on ‘poetryarchive.org’

Lemm Sissay’s poem Making A Difference is published in

These Are the Hands Poems from the heart of the NHS.

All proceeds from the sale of this book go to NHS Charities

to help with Covid 19 work.

Lemm Sissay is also a novelist and has written a heartfelt

book entitled my name is why. The story of his early life.

Mayo Angelou


Mayo Angelou is a woman of colour and an activist poet.

She died in 2014. As well as her fiction and poetry she is

known for her philosophical sayings:


Poetry can tell us what human beings are.

It can tell us why we stumble and fall and how,

miraculously, we can stand up.

*****

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will

forget what you did, but people will never forget how you

made them feel.

*****

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story

inside you.


Southwark and Lambeth Libraries have access to

local people’s videos and poems. Do check them out.

Enjoy the month and stay safe.

Wendy and Robert