New Black Lives podcast offers an honest conversation about race for Black History Month

Last week marked the start of Black History Month, where from 1 October - 31 October, an annual observance recognised in, amongst other places, the UK and the US. 

Hello, Upper East Sider! Gossip Girl here and I'm bringing you some juicy details on besties Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen.  Well, we're not GG as we would have liked to be but you get the drift.

October marks Black History Month, where we celebrate Black culture and pay homage to forgotten historical figures.To mark the month, a series of TV shows featuring some of our favourite stars will be hitting our screens. Alison Hammond is going back in time to learn all about key black historical figures who have been forgotten from our history books in her brand new documentary, Back To School.

Can Black History be confined to just ONE month? No, it is abundant and relevant all year! Since 1987, October has been set aside to shine a light on unknown or “whitewashed” Black heroes of the past. As British Ghanaians, we, the founders of Afro Leads (@afro_leads) are happy to embrace this month and are honoured to share what Black history means to us.

It's been 13 years since we first heard the phrase: "You know you love me. XOXO Gossip Girl!" On September 19, 2007, Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) saw the love of his life Serena Van Der Woodsen (Blake Lively) returning to New York while the latter reunites with her bestie Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester).

From Arthur Lewis, the Nobel prize-winning economist, to the ordinary people who Quaker abolitionist Thomas Clarkson spotted in the crowd at the first-ever anti-slavery public meeting, back in 1787 at Manchester Cathedral, black Mancunians have made history.October each year is Black History Month, a time when a light is shone on the contributions of those whose stories have been neglected by history, because of the colour of their skin.  In previous years, the M.E.N. has looked at the lives of

the official website, puts it: "2020 has held a mirror up to the world and forced many to see the reality of racism in all its guises."Shining a light on black history, heritage and culture, this year's Black History Month programme includes plenty of virtual events in light of the current coronavirus restrictions.Many of Greater Manchester's reopened galleries, museums and theatres will also be hosting in-person performances and exhibitions, with extra safety measures in place.

“Our first and second commandment for ourselves as we ministered with people with AIDS,” Fr. Bernard Lynch, an openly gay, Irish Catholic priest, author, activist and founder of the first AIDS ministry in New York City in 1982, said in a FaceTime interview, “was thou shalt not bullshit anyone!”

Bella Hadid picks up some thrifted clothes while shopping at the Sidewalk Sale for Social Justice on Sunday afternoon (September 27) in Brooklyn, New York.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorOWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is set to resume production in New Orleans on the remainder of the 10-episode season 5 of Queen Sugar, shut down in March due to COVID-19.Since filming came to a halt nearly seven months ago, creator Ava DuVernay decided to completely revamp the remainder of the season to reflect the very real issues our country is facing through the lens of the Bordelon family and the fictional community of St. Josephine.

Will Thorne Staff Writer“Queen Sugar” is getting back in action.The OWN series is officially returning to set for production on season 5 in New Orleans to shoot the remainder of its 10-episode season.Production on the fifth season had previously begun in March, but like almost every show it the planet, it was forced to shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.