Black History Month 2025 invites us to do more than reflect - it calls us to stand firm. In south east London, this theme is not a metaphor. It’s a lived reality. From the elders who marched through Lewisham in ’77 to the young leaders reshaping commissioning frameworks today, this region is a testament to Black legacy in motion.

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Legacy: the ground we stand on

South east London has long been a crucible of Black resistance and brilliance. It’s where the New Cross Fire protests ignited national reckoning. It’s where community halls became sanctuaries, and where Black-led churches, youth centres, and cultural hubs nurtured generations of organisers, artists, and healers.

This legacy is not static—it’s active infrastructure. It lives in the stories, buildings, and governance models that continue to shape public systems today.

Present: innovation rooted in equity

Today, south east London is leading the way in Black-led systems change. Across Lewisham, Deptford, and Peckham, Black VCSEs are activating spaces, influencing policy, and embedding equity into the DNA of public services.

Young leaders are co-designing mental health frameworks, launching fashion and tech enterprises, and curating cultural platforms that reflect their heritage and vision. Their work is strategic, intersectional, and unapologetically brilliant.

This is not just innovation—it’s strategic stewardship. It’s the present-day manifestation of standing firm in power and pride.

Future: youth-led legacy building

The future is already here - and it’s being shaped by young Black voices who are not waiting to be invited. They’re redesigning governance, activating sanctuaries, and building infrastructure that reflects their lived experience and aspirations.

South east London is investing in youth-led commissioning, participatory evaluation, and intergenerational dialogue. It’s where legacy is passed not just through stories, but through shared power and co-creation.

These young leaders are not just inheriting legacy - they’re redefining it.

A quote to carry us forward

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”
- Bob Marley, Redemption Song

This quote reminds us that liberation begins within - and that south east London is already leading the way.

A movement, not a moment

This year’s theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” finds its fullest expression in south east London. It’s where legacy is honoured, innovation is activated, and the future is being built - by young people, elders, and communities working together.

Let this month be a celebration of what’s already happening - and a commitment to sustain it.