It’s Black History Month! As part of our celebrations this October, we asked our members to share their Black History Month recommendations.
The Black History Month picks recommended by our members are a great way to learn more about the Black experience, identity and culture. You can pick up a new book, discover a new author or performer, or try something new.
A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their recommendations.
As recommended by: Aleigha Adams, Crown Prosecutor
Read
In Black and White by Alexandra Wilson. Highly recommended. I appreciated the honesty of this book. The author explores what it is really like to be a mixed-race female at the bar and her experiences of the wider criminal justice system as a whole. Her personal experience of often being mistaken for the defendant is familiar to many Black lawyers in the profession.
Watch
When they see us on Netflix, which is based on the true story of the Central Park five. It shows how five young Black boys came to be wrongfully arrested, convicted and sentenced for the raping and beating of a young white woman. Although later exonerated, it is devastating to watch and I found it quite difficult. It wasn’t a mistake that led to these events, it was deep-rooted racism in the criminal justice system, media and wider society. We have to face the ugly truth of the past to make sure history never repeats itself.
See and Experience
Look out for events organised by Birmingham Black Lawyers (BBL), a networking organisation committed to promoting diversity within the legal community. Events are suited to varying levels of the profession, from students to established legal professionals. Visit www.birminghamblacklawyers.co.uk to check out the upcoming events. As a committee member, it would be great to see some CPS colleagues at events in the future.