06/04/2026
Our head chef in his singing days 🎉
Who tells the story of our communities?
Nearly 200 years ago, Black journalists asked the same question.
On 16 March 1827, the first Black-owned newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, was published in New York. In its opening editorial, the editors wrote words that still resonate today:
“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.”
It was more than a newspaper.
It was a powerful declaration that Black communities would tell their own stories, record their own history and shape their own narrative.
That spirit travelled across the Atlantic.
In Britain, pioneers like Dusé Mohamed Ali, who founded The African Times and Orient Review in 1912, and Claudia Jones, founder of the West Indian Gazette in 1958, used journalism to challenge discrimination, connect communities and celebrate Black life.
Today, that tradition continues here in Bristol.
The Bristol Black History Month Magazine carries forward this legacy by documenting the people, culture and leadership shaping our city and region. These stories matter because they create a living archive for future generations.
As we approach Black History Month 2026, themed “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” the next edition will continue celebrating Bristol’s community voices and creative talent.
Pre-orders for the 2026 archive edition are now open.
By supporting the magazine, you help commission local writers, photographers and creatives, ensuring that region's stories continue to be told and preserved.
https://bristolblackhistorymonth.co.uk/product/2026-magazine-pre-order/
Because the message from 1827 still speaks to us today:
“We wish to plead our own cause.”
