Black History Month is a time for us to reflect, appreciate and commend the British history of the Black community in the UK. The reason being throughout our education and much of our lives, it has been true that the achievements and hurdles of the Black community are overlooked. Together TV’s 2021 Diverse Film Fund appointed five filmmakers to produce a short documentary uncovering Black British Lives Today. They will be premiered on Together TV’s channel throughout Black History Month, but the filmmakers insist that their stories are not unique.

 

For instance, it only takes looking closer at an industry to see how the level of racial diversity impacts many individuals. Alexandra Genova used Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund to shine a light on the reality of being a black farmer in the UK in her short documentary Our Land. Agriculture is one of the least racially diverse industries in Britain. The lack of diversity in agriculture has much to do with farms being passed down from generation to generation. Our Land showcases the experiences of three black farmers and over two years of research were put into it. White maize farmer David Mwanaka shared how fellow farmers called the police three times when he began cultivating his corn under the assumption that he was stealing. Our Land will be shown on Together TV throughout October starting from 6th October and it is an eye opening documentary to an industry that is on the cusp of a massive change, that will hopefully include diversification.

 

From another perspective, Sheila Kayuma’s The Black Equestrian documented the reality of being a black, female equestrian in a world of dressage and polo. Show jumper, Sandra Murphy had long experienced a different treatment in the world of equestrianism because of her race. From a young age, volunteering to clean stables, she was rarely offered the chance to ride the horses, despite her ample efforts. “I was always the one to shut the gate and said goodbye to everybody when they went on their rides.” When riding in the RAF, peers would question where she got her horse. It spurred her to create a Facebook group, BAME Equine and Rural Activities Focus Group (BERF), for fellow BAME equestrians as a sanctuary. To hear Sandra’s full story as well as polo player Mame-Yaa Bonsu and show jumper Christine Desi-Lewis don't The Black Equestrian on Together TV from Tuesday 12th October.

 

Tune into Together TV throughout Black History Month to hear more from Black Brits that are breaking boundaries. See our TV guide for the showtimes of The Black Equestrian and Our Land.

 

If you’ve got a story to tell about diversity in the industry you work in, leave a comment or tag us on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.