{"id":14685,"date":"2022-10-12T16:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T15:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?p=14685"},"modified":"2026-01-06T17:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T17:20:49","slug":"black-is-beautiful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/black-is-beautiful\/","title":{"rendered":"Black is Beautiful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thelma Duru has worked at Sense for over six years. She’s one our incredible support workers at Horton Street, where she also holds the position of culture champion. For Thelma, Black History Month is a reason to celebrate black identity, in all its forms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, I recognise Black History Month by bringing some black culture into the heart of my workplace. We do cooking and try foods from different parts of the world \u2013 Jamaican, Ghanaian, Nigerian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re also doing games and poetry reading. I love poetry. There are so many great poets from my country, Nigeria. I’ll be reading some work by black poets for our day of cultural celebration at Horton Street<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also write my own poetry. I wrote a piece in October 2021 to share with everyone at Sense. It’s titled Black is Beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This poem was written to make we, the blacks, proud of their colour. To make sure they know not to feel inferior or less human than people of white colour. Black people should be celebrated and not looked down on. That’s where equality and diversity comes in. Love and respect!<\/p>\n\u2014 Thelma <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Black is Beautiful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the colour of my skin, to the texture of my hair, to the length of my
strands, to the breath of my smile – Black is beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It cannot be denied. It will not be contained and only I will define it. For
when I look in the mirror, my very soul cries out – Black is beautiful<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether celebrated, imitated, exploited or denigrated, whether natural from
inside or skilfully applied – Black is beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so today in Beechwood House, Horton Street, I speak it out loud
unabashedly I declare it anew that – Black is beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To all my black sisters, brothers, my colleagues and all individuals in Sense
homes, I speak for us all when I say again – Back is beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

What is Black History?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n