**"Does Black History Month feel different in 2021? If so how?"**
I think many people and companies were emotionally charged by the horrific murder of George Floyd last year, and that inspired many people to get involved in Black History Month. Now over a year on, it can feel like people have forgotten that black lives still matter, and we need the same energy for Black History Month 2021 as we did in 2021. So I really urge people to continue to celebrate our black heroes, continue to educate themselves and those around them, and most importantly to continue to conversation on equality!

**"What impact has black culture had on your life?"**
It's very easy for me to say I'm half black so of course, black culture impacts my life that way. But realistically, even if I had no black descent at all black culture would still impact me. Like first off, the Windrush generation helped to rebuild this country. Without that, we have no idea what the UK would have looked like. Black culture has influenced music so heavily. Of course, I love black music, from rap to RnB, to afro-beats to dancehall. But even if that wasn't my music preference, black culture has had an influence on so many genres such as dance and pop music. And finally, I don't think I could go a week without having some form of Caribbean food. For me, it really is the best. I am so proud that to have black heritage.

**"Who do you want to CELEBRATE this Black History Month? And why?"**
I want to celebrate Phyllis Akua Opoku-Gyimah also known as Lady Phyll. She is the co-founder of UK Black Pride. And black pride is an event that I am able to celebrate both my sexuality and my ethnicity. It's easy for people to think they have to be celebrated separately when they really don't and Lady Phyll showed us that! I think with black history month we focus on US icons, which is great but we also need to celebrate our black UK icons, that are putting in the work RIGHT NOW. And Lady Phyll has provided a safe place for thousands of Black British LGBTQ+ people here in the UK.

#blackhistorymonth