Black History Month celebrates the impact that BME individuals have had in enhancing and contributing to the country’s development, as this involvement has not been always recognised in the past. Over the years, the BME population have shared their talents in many ways and this year's legacy is being appreciated throughout London, with the theme “Heroes and Heritage, Past to Present – Same History”.

This year’s theme illustrates the need to not only acknowledge the past achievement of people of colour, despite their perceived inferiority and the struggles that arose from that but also to bring attention to the work being done today that is strengthening communities and adding to that legacy.

Earlier this year, the mistreatment of the Windrush generation had arisen, where immigrants who were invited to the UK from Caribbean countries -as they were a part of the Commonwealth- to regulate the labour shortage in Britain was facing from 1948 to 1971. They were stripped of the rights of a British citizen even though they worked and paid taxes, contributing to the economy.

This is why this year’s Black History Month is celebrating the Windrush generation to bring attention to those who migrated from the Caribbean and have settled here and built families generations afterwards. As well as building families and working they've also created businesses that will form part the legacy of future generations. I spoke to Kuumba Nia an African-Caribbean business owner. Kuumba is director of  HPD, a personal development business. When I asked Kuumba about the significance of the post-war contribution of the Windrush generation and impact of black-owned businesses, she was very clear on her stance saying " When my mother came here from the Caribbean, she did shift work in a car factory. I will forever be grateful to her for the courage and ambition that brought her here and that enabled me to get a degree and the confidence to start my own business.

Now, as a business owner, I believe that I am contributing to the legacy she began, through example, through the service I provide and through the economic foundation that I and many other black business owners are building. That’s my take on Heroes and Heritage. “