The voices, images and history of black people

October is Black History Month and hundreds of events have been organised around Britain to celebrate the lives and achievements of black people.

The presence of black people in 19th century art will be explored at the Manchester Art Gallery in Mosley Street. Black Victorians: Black People in British Art 1800-1900 is exhibited from 1 October to 8 January 2006.

Helen Wilson, a black British artist, visited Rwanda in 2002. Her work, which reflects the resilience of the Rwandan people after the 1994 genocide that killed one million people, will be exhibited in Birmingham.

Making Sense: A Rwandan Story is at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery from Saturday 16 October until 23 January.

The collection of photographer Pogus Caesar is exhibited online at www.oomgallery.net until 28 October. Pogus Caesar took pictures of many black music legends during the 1980s. Images include Jimmy Cliff, Rita Marley, MC Hammer and Stevie Wonder.

Pictures of Birmingham’s Handsworth riot in 1985 will be displayed in Handsworth Evolution: Burning Images at The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham from 30 September to 28 October.

The Geffrye Museum in Hackney, east London, will be exploring the changing nature of the homes of different generations of people who have come to London from the Caribbean. The West Indian Front Room is displayed from 18 October to 19 February 2006. Go to www.geffrye-museum.org.uk for more information.

A conference on Liverpool and Transatlantic Slavery will take place at Liverpool’s Maritime Museum from 13-15 October. The Museum in Docklands, east London, is hosting a study day into the life and work of anti-slavery campaigner Robert Wedderburn on Sunday 16 October.

A host of other interesting and exciting exhibitions, talks and events are taking place across the country. Socialist Worker will continue to look at and highlight them throughout October.

For a more extensive list of events go to www.black-history-month.co.uk