October marks Black History Month in the UK. It aims to give everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture in the UK and around the world.
BBC Bitesize spoke to Fee Mak, a BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter and huge fan of books and films, music - the lot. She gave us her five recommendations for stories offering insight into both black history and peoples’ experiences now.
Hair Love
Image source, Sony PicturesWhat is the plot?
Hair Love is an animated short film about a black father who faces the daunting task of doing his daughter’s hair for the first time. The film teaches a young black girl to love every inch of her hair. Directed by Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing and Bruce W. Smith, it won an Oscar for Best Animated Short. There is an audiobook version too, narrated by Blue-Ivy Carter.
What does Fee say?
As a black girl, I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my hair - complaining about how difficult it is to manage and I’m not alone when I say this. However, Hair Love puts a black girl’s hair at the forefront.
Noughts and Crosses, by Malorie Blackman
Image source, Malorie BlackmanWhat is the plot?
Slavery has just ended, yet segregation still exists in this alternate fictional universe. In this world, Crosses (dark-skinned people) are in control of Noughts (fair-skinned people). The way people with different skin tones are treated profoundly impacts the lives of childhood friends Sephy and Callum. It’s an ideal introduction to understanding racial tensions and how they impact all aspects of life, from relationships to how your future might play out. Noughts and Crosses was also adapted for TV and is on iPlayer here.
What does Fee say?
Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses transformed me in secondary school. I had never read anything like it at the time. As a teenager, it perfectly captures romance, heartbreak, and a bit of social justice.
Boarders - BBC One and iPlayer
Image source, BBCWhat is the plot?
In an attempt to rehabilitate its image, prestigious private school St Gilbert’s grants scholarships to five black teenagers from inner-city London. Creator of the TV show Daniel Lawrence Taylor says “they navigate their way through this very alien world steeped in complexities… whilst also coming of age and figuring out who they are.”
What does Fee say?
The characters are thrust into a world of private school rich kids and a range of complex social norms that they have to adapt to. This is a series that probably a lot of inner city black kids have been waiting for.
Bright Stars Of Black British History by J.T. Williams
Image source, Angela VivesWhat is the plot?
This book for all ages touches on the often forgotten “stars” of black British history. This presents the extraordinary life stories of fourteen bright stars - including Tudor trumpeter John Blanke, storytelling freedom fighter Mary Prince, and Notting Hill Carnival founder Claudia Jones – and charts their ongoing influence on modern Britain.
What does Fee say?
It's a real eye opener for people who love history. I definitely learned more things reading this book about black British history than I learned in school.
The Hate U Give (2018)
Image source, Landmark MediaWhat is the plot?
In this film, 16 year old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the school in a richer suburb she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil by police. Khalil was unarmed. Based on the book by Angie Thomas that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
What does Fee say?
The film is deeply moving and can also be shocking for younger audiences, focusing on the societal pressures African-American girl Starr experiences from various communities. It’s a solid introductory film that shows how racism and discrimination negatively impacts the lives of marginalized groups. I would recommend it to everyone.
Fee Mak is a Radio and TV presenter, best known as the host of the BBC Radio 1Xtra Breakfast Show on Sundays.
Fee is a passionate music and literature advocate hosting sessions at prestigious events, interviewing famous authors and music artists about their work.
Also a friend of the BBC Bitesize School Tour, Fee has helped connect school children across the UK with professionals through engaging panel discussions about career paths and creative industries.
This article was published in October 2025.
