Vocabulary · English-speaking culture
Black History Month in English
B1
Black History Month in English: the celebration of African American and Black British history, slavery and civil rights, famous figures and the words of equality. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The celebration
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Black History Month(n.)“Black History Month is in February in the US.” | a February (US) or October (UK) celebration | /blæk ˈhɪstəri mʌnθ/ |
| African American(n./adj.) | a Black person from the United States | /ˈæfrɪkən əˈmerɪkən/ |
| Black British(n./adj.) | a UK citizen with African or Caribbean roots | /blæk ˈbrɪtɪʃ/ |
| community(n.) | a group of people with something in common | /kəˈmjuːnəti/ |
| heritage(n.) | history and traditions from the past | /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ |
| celebration(n.) | a special event for a happy reason | /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃən/ |
| awareness(n.) | knowing and understanding a problem | /əˈweənəs/ |
Slavery and history
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| slavery(n.)“Slavery was abolished in 1865 in the US.” | owning people and forcing them to work | /ˈsleɪvəri/ |
| slave(n.) | a person owned by another person | /sleɪv/ |
| abolition(n.) | the official end of a law or system | /ˌæbəˈlɪʃən/ |
| freedom(n.) | the right to live as you choose | /ˈfriːdəm/ |
| plantation(n.) | a big farm for cotton or sugar | /plænˈteɪʃən/ |
| Underground Railroad(n.) | a secret network to help slaves escape | /ˈʌndəɡraʊnd ˈreɪlrəʊd/ |
| segregation(n.) | keeping people apart because of their race | /ˌseɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən/ |
Civil rights
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| civil rights(n.)“Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement.” | equal treatment for all citizens by law | /ˈsɪvəl raɪts/ |
| equality(n.) | having the same rights as others | /ɪˈkwɒləti/ |
| justice(n.) | fair treatment by the law | /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ |
| discrimination(n.) | treating people unfairly because of who they are | /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/ |
| racism(n.) | judging people badly because of their race | /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ |
| protest(n.) | a public action against something | /ˈprəʊtest/ |
| march(n.) | a long walk to protest | /mɑːtʃ/ |
| activist(n.) | a person who fights for a cause | /ˈæktɪvɪst/ |
| speech(n.) | a formal talk to an audience | /spiːtʃ/ |
Famous figures
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King(n.) | a US civil rights leader | /ˈmɑːtɪn ˈluːθə kɪŋ/ |
| Rosa Parks(n.) | she refused to give up her bus seat | /ˈrəʊzə pɑːks/ |
| Harriet Tubman(n.) | she guided slaves to freedom | /ˈhærɪət ˈtʌbmən/ |
| Frederick Douglass(n.) | a former slave who fought against slavery | /ˈfredrɪk ˈdʌɡləs/ |
| Mary Seacole(n.) | a Jamaican-British nurse in the Crimean War | /ˈmeəri ˈsiːkəʊl/ |
| Nelson Mandela(n.) | South Africa's first Black president | /ˈnelsən mænˈdelə/ |
| I have a dream(phrase) | Martin Luther King's famous 1963 speech | /aɪ hæv ə driːm/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Only in February ❌: the UK says October
Be careful: Black History Month is in February in the US and Canada, but in October in the UK and Ireland. Both dates are right, so do not say that one is “the real one”. In the US, it started in February 1976 (with President Gerald Ford). In the UK, it started in October 1987 (in London).
African American, Black, person of color
Several words are used in American English: African American (an American with African roots), Black (a wider word for all Black people) and person of color (short form POC, for all people who are not white). In the UK, people say Black British. The short form BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) was common for a long time, but today many people see it as out of date: the British government no longer uses it.
Practice quiz
What's next?
Black History Month: learn these words for good
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Frequently asked questions
When is Black History Month?+
It depends on the country. It is in February in the United States (since 1976) and in Canada (since 1995). It is in October in the UK (since 1987) and in Ireland. Each country chose its month for its own historical reasons.
Why do we celebrate Black History Month?+
To honour the history, the achievements and the important people of Black communities (African American in the US, African and Caribbean in the UK). The month remembers slavery, segregation and the civil rights movement. It also celebrates Black artists, scientists, athletes and thinkers who are often missing from school books.
Who are famous people in Black history?+
In the United States: Martin Luther King (civil rights, I have a dream), Rosa Parks (she refused to give up her seat on a bus in 1955), Harriet Tubman (the Underground Railroad) and Frederick Douglass (he fought to end slavery). In the UK: Mary Seacole (a nurse in the Crimean War) and Olaudah Equiano (a former slave who wrote the story of his life).
What was the Underground Railroad?+
The Underground Railroad was not a real railway. In the 19th century, it was a secret network of people and safe houses. It helped enslaved people in the southern United States escape to freedom in the North and in Canada. Harriet Tubman is its most famous guide.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/black-history-month
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.