Arthur Wharton, the first ever black player to play in the English leagues
Black History Month is celebrated across the UK every October, and the month also incorporates the One Game, One Community weeks of action.
There are a number of events going on up and down the country throughout the month, including one project dedicated to the memory of Walter Tull.
Black History Month (BHM) is held every October in Britain. The origins of BHM go back to the 1920's in America.
Whilst its focus is in celebrating the history and achievements of those of African heritage it has become a means of celebrating the contributions of other minorities in Britain.
Celebrate diversity
The One Game, One Community weeks of action also aim to celebrate the diversity of Britain and the vast number of cultures within the country.
The period not only sees football clubs from all levels of the game get involved in the initiative, but also hundreds of community groups, some of which have benefitted from receiving a One Game, One Community grant.
One of these groups is Crossing the White Line: The Walter Tull Story website, an initiative put together by City of Westminster Archives and Walter Tull biographer, Phil Vasili and funded by Kick it Out and the Heritage Lottery.
The website is part of a larger project, which aims to raise awareness and celebrate the short but historically significant life of Walter Tull, a uniquely brave, gifted and determined man, whose life reads like an epic adventure; he was a leader of men, a national hero, yet his story still remains largely untold.
Anniversary
The year 2008 is of particular importance, 28th April, 2008, marks the 120th anniversary of Walter’s birth and 25th March, 2008, the 90th anniversary of his death.
It is also poignant that these anniversaries occur when at 11am, on the 11th November, nations will be remembering the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
Britain’s national Armistice celebrations will focus on Westminster Abbey and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior who represents all soldiers, like Tull, who have no known grave.
While, in the past, these remembrance events have sometimes been criticised as Euro-centric, Walter’s story confounds this perception by broadening our understanding of Britain’s multi-ethnic past, thus attracting interest from a wider cross-cultural audience.
For more information on the project, please visit crossingthewhiteline.com
