October is Black History Month. Time to celebrate

October is Black History Month, and here at Coolherbals, we want to use this time as an opportunity for celebration and awareness.

Where would society be today without inventors and positive creations of Black people in the community? They have contributed greatly to our society and their input is now recognised and appreciated. People from many different backgrounds come together during this month to celebrate the positive role of Black people in shaping our communities, their achievements and contributions throughout history in the fields of science, literature, art, music and much more.

From Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) –  the first African-American poet to be published in 1773 to Diane Abbott who in 1987, made history by becoming the first black woman ever to be elected to British Parliament, we are honoured to celebrate the beauty of our society and culture.

Black History Month aims to: 

• promote knowledge and understanding of Black History and culture, both nationally and internationally
• acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by Black people to the cultural and economic development of the UK

Events to attend:

1. Celebrate Black History Month at the Museum of London – join the talks, take part in the free family trail and explore the stories of Black Londoners in the museum collection

2.      Join Camden Black History Walk (7 November) by Black History Walks

3.      Attend the Journal Black – A Black History Month Art Exhibition by Studio Trew

3 Books to read for Black History Month:

1. Becoming, by Michelle Obama – an inspirational memoir from the former First Lady
2. Ordinary People, by Diana Evans. Follows two couples in South London as they navigate black and mixed-race middle-class domesticity and parenthood
3. Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené. Best friends Yomi and Elizabeth bring together real-life stories and interviews with successful black British women

Exceptional women, you should know about:

1. Fanny Eaton (1835). You can see Fanny Eaton featured in a lot of artwork by Pre-Raphaelite artists (a period of art which started in the mid-1880s). That’s because she worked as a model for several well-known artists, at the time when many people did not see black people as beautiful. Fanny Eaton challenged this and is an important figure in the history of art.
2. Olive Morris (1952-1979) was an important figure in terms of civil rights. Black people didn’t used to have the same rights as other people, simply because of the colour of their skin – and Olive was one of many people who worked tirelessly to change that.  She campaigned for the rights of black people in South London and Manchester and was a founding member of groups like the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent (OWAAD) and the Brixton Black Women’s Group.
3. Claudia Jones – a Trinidadian journalist and activist living in London – laid the foundations in 1959 of a Caribbean Carnival in north London, paving the way for the first carnival in Notting Hill that took place in 1966.

Inspirational women to follow on social media

1. Diane Abbott. In 1987, Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first black woman ever to be elected to Parliament. She was elected to Westminster City Council, before being voted into the House of Commons five years later. It made her part of the first group of black and Asian people to sit in Parliament for almost a century. She still serves in Parliament to this day as one of the main politicians in the Labour party.
2. Dr Shirley Thompson was named as “one of the most inspirational Black British women” by the newspaper Metro. In 2004, she became the first woman in Europe to conduct and compose a symphony within the last 40 years. It was called New Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony. Because of her work, she was named on the Evening Standard’s Power List of Britain’s Top 100 Most Influential Black People in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
3. Zadie Smith If you go into a book shop, you would be very likely to spot one of Zadie Smith’s books on the shelves. She is an extremely successful author, having published her first book at the age of just 24.

Beauty Tips for gorgeous curly hair

1. Drink water often. When it comes to your afro hair, water is an absolute necessity for keeping the hair hydrated. It is recommended that you drink eight glasses of water daily. Furthermore, consistently apply water to your hair.
2. Use A Sulfate-Free Shampoo. Many shampoos contain chemicals such as ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate that tend to cause dryness and breakage for your natural hair. Choose a sulfate-free shampoo (and conditioner) and use it weekly to add more moisture to your hair and scalp. Try Nutrigro Serum, Shampoo and Conditioner Set containing essential nutrients to help maintain a healthy scalp and existing hair growth. Nourishes and protects leaving hair looking and feeling thicker, beautifully clean and healthy.
3. Eat healthy foods. Nutritious meals are essential for your body and contribute to stronger, healthier hair. A balanced meal rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, low-fat proteins, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will aid your hair growth. For keeping hair hydrated eat foods rich in vitamins A and C, such as green leafy vegetables.
4. Tame those tresses with Nutrigro Serum. Nutrigro Hair Serum is designed to be used daily on the scalp. Scientifically formulated, it contains botanical complexes, which keep the hair rigid and break resistant and help to clear the build-up of dead cells around the follicles allowing the growth of existing hair. The formulation is rich in vitamins and minerals to help maintain the growth of existing hair. The sugar beet Betaine in the Serum is believed to improve the production of collagen making the hair bulb stronger. The Fruit extracts help clear dead cells around the follicles keeping the hair breakage resistant. The Serum increases the microcirculation to the hair roots giving the best conditions for healthy hair growth.

For best results, we recommend you take Nutrigro Capsules (Male, Female, Female+), Shampoo (Dry, Greasy, Normal), Conditioner and follow the Nutrigro Plan.