Hackney's Black History Flag raised above Hackney Town Hall
To launch Hackney’s Black History Month last week, Malaika Parillon Langlais Baron, a Year 9 pupil from The Urswick School, joined the Speaker of Hackney to raise her winning flag design above Hackney Town Hall.
The young artist won against 75 other school children in the Hackney Black History Flag competition, which was launched in October last year. Her winning design was picked out by a panel of judges and was awarded on distinctiveness of design, being exciting and colourful and celebrating the present and future while honouring the past.
Malaika said: “I feel a sense of pride seeing my flag design fly over the town hall. I hope it will draw attention to Black History and inspire others.”
Richard Brown, Executive Headteacher at The Urswick School said: “Black History Month is one of the most important parts of the school year as it allows us to celebrate the unique contribution Black people have made, and will continue to make, to our community and society in general. As a school we are located close to the Town Hall and Mare Street. It will be fantastic to see a flag designed by an Urswick student flying proudly from the Town Hall during this month. We will all be inspired by Malaika’s work.”
This flag represents Hackney and the contribution that African and Caribbean communities have made both locally and across the globe. Malaika’s highly creative design embodies a sense of pride and is an important symbol for the borough and for our Black History celebrations.
Black History Month is a national annual celebration of the contribution that African and Caribbean communities have made both locally and across the globe.
Events run by Hackney Council are free and will take place at Hackney Museum, Hackney Archives, Youth Hubs and at libraries across the borough, until January 2018.
Some events require advance booking. For more information, pick up a programme of activities from libraries and other venues across the borough, visit the Black History webpage or follow the year-round Black History awareness campaign in Hackney on Facebook.