The series, which launched on HuffPost UK on 26 August, will consist of six episodes, published once every two-to-four weeks until the end of the year.
Radio and television presenter Yinka Bokinni will host panel discussions with special guests on a range of topics including parenting, feminism, education, and health.
The first episode focuses on the need for inclusivity within the school curriculum and the impact of an education system that does not represent everyone's history. Yinka Bokinni is joined by singer/songwriter Jamelia, CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson and Black Curriculum CEO, Lavinya Stennett. The Black Curriculum is a social enterprise working to support the teaching of black history all year round.
Each episode will be published on Huffpost.co.uk, as well as on HuffPost UK media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. HuffPost UK will be doing callouts in future episodes for audiences to participate in the conversation, which they can do by using the hashtag #BlackVoicesHPUK on social media.
Harry Slater, Acting Editor-in-Chief at HuffPost UK said: “HuffPost UK is committed to telling the stories of real people and elevating voices that are so often omitted from mainstream media. Our new video series Black Voices will provide a high quality and authentic platform for important conversations about the issues that black people are living through at such a critical time in history. Through amplifying diverse voices, HuffPost UK hopes to create change within the media industry, and reflect real people, their feelings and experiences.”
Yinka Bokinni, host of Black Voices, said: “This is the kind of show that is missing from the British consciousness, yet so very necessary. On Black Voices we are not going to be talked about or tokenised – we are going to be leading the conversation, on our terms.”
This launch follows on from HuffPost US’ Black Voices series, which has helped to amplify black voices through political, social justice, entertainment and cultural news across the US this summer.
Here in the UK, to continue supporting greater diversity within the media industry, HuffPost is running an internship with a journalism student from the HuffPost Media Centre at Birmingham City University (BCU) – where 62% of applications are from BAME backgrounds. Earlier this month, HuffPost UK welcomed Black Ballad as guest editors with a series on parenting and family life created and written by black women.
