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Black History Month Essay

Are you aged 15-18? Write a 500-word biography about a Black historical figure whose story deserves to be better known.

Details

ENTRY

Submit your essay via the form below. 
Applications will close on 31st October 2026 (midnight).
Only original work will be considered.  

 

RESULTS

All entries will be reviewed by a judging panel. 
The winner will be announced on 30th November.
The prize is one £100 Amazon voucher. 

NOTE

You must register an account.
To submit an entry please login.
Open to residents of England, Wales, Scotland and NI only.

DETAILS

History is full of people who changed lives, challenged injustice and shaped communities. 
But not every important story makes it into the history books. 

We want you to uncover one of those stories. 

Choose a Black historical figure from one of these areas:
  • Health 
  • Military Service 
  • Science and Technology 
  • Politics, including local activism or national movements 
  • Culture 
     
Tell us:
  • Who they were 
  • What they achieved 
  • What challenges they faced 
  • Why their story matters today 
  • Why more people should know about them 
     
Need inspiration? 

You could write about someone like: 

Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola 
A Nigerian princess who lived in Britain and supported the war effort during the Second World War. 

Lilian Bader 
One of the first Black women to join the RAF, where she worked as an instrument repair technician despite racial and gender discrimination. 

Dr Paul Stephenson 
A civil rights campaigner whose leadership helped drive the Bristol Bus Boycott. 

Kanya King 
Founder of the MOBO Awards, who helped transform recognition of Black music and culture in the UK. 

Or you can choose your own history hero. 

 

Whose story will you bring into the spotlight?