Town will be celebrating Black History Month throughout October.

The club say they are supporting the annual celebration of the UK’s black history and heritage as part of their commitment to promoting equality and diversity for all, with a range of initiatives and activities taking place to help promote and celebrate black contributions to the club and society.

CEO Mark Ashton told the club site: "It's important that we celebrate Black History Month by looking back at our past and what we've achieved, but by also raising vital awareness for our black community.

"Equality and diversity within our community is at the forefront of everything we do as a club."

Town will be working with Suffolk police to deliver an assembly to a local high school which will have first-team involvement, while the Blues will also be talking to three local primary schools about why Black History Month is celebrated and the history of black players and coaches at the club.

The programme for the game against Shrewsbury Town a week on Saturday will focus on the history of the club’s black players and key figures within the local area and community.

In the FanZone, two black police officers will be present to speak with supporters about the importance of Black History Month and their experiences of policing in Suffolk. The SLO Hub will include the history of black players at the club.

Town’s new My Club, My Town social media feature will speak to a black supporter about their experiences of supporting the Blues.

Photo: ITFC

Blue_Again added 16:53 - Oct 1 Why can't we just celebrate everybody's history together?
6

Edmundo added 17:08 - Oct 1 Would be good to celebrate Dalian, RIP: he was such a great player, and we never officially acknowledged his tragic passing to my knowledge (I stand to be corrected)..
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:40 - Oct 1 Not sure about this initiative. I support equality and diversity and I'm sure it's being done for the best possible reasons, but singling out black British players in this way just seems to reinforce the prejudice that they are different.
9

Seablue added 17:45 - Oct 1 Excellent work from the club. Ipswich has long been an ethnically diverse and generally inclusive town and great to see the club playing a vital role in continuing to keep it that way.
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 17:51 - Oct 1 For the same reasons we raise awareness and celebrate other groups of people such as veterans through the poppy appeal, black history month is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the black community in the UK, their experiences and celebrate the positive things they have contributed to our society
6

tonydinning added 18:17 - Oct 1 It's time for a Fabian Wilnis statue
1

Kropotkin123 added 18:29 - Oct 1 The precursor was "Negro History Week". The diverse culture and traditions of black peoples was surpressed for centuries in America. So Carter Woodson set out to preserve and celebrate black history. The week expanded to a month and was then adopted outside of the US. Its not about segregation, it is about creating a positive and recognised understanding of black people's contribution historically throughout all walks of life. All other people's are welcome to celebrate black history month. He had observed that native Americans had not protected their history in writing and had become, at the time, a footnote in history. Whilst the Hebrews, persecuted for 1000s of years, had, and therefore persevered. Dalian's situation, RIP, should serve as a reminder that we need to promote the positive contributions black people have made at Ipswich and the wider community. As our heroes can still be unjustly taken from us, due to the colour of their skin.

7

Europablue added 18:31 - Oct 1 Equality would be if black history were treated as part of British history, not separate. I can't help but agree with Steve ITFC Sweden. This constant racialisation must be part of why black people still get singled out and subjected to disgusting abuse.
5

Europablue added 18:33 - Oct 1 Seablue I don't care if the team is ethnically diverse, I just want the best players to be in the team, but more than that I want them to play for the team, so preferably I want them to be local lads or be adopted like Wilnis or Holland. The whole team could be black or all white and I wouldn't give a stuff.
2

Cadiar added 20:36 - Oct 1 I remember seeing Johnny Miller having bananas thrown at him not from the away supporters but the Town fans. We should also make a special effort for Dalian A. Racism is still rife in this country, why???
2

WhoisJimmyJuan added 20:40 - Oct 1 Nearer to home. Quiz question: the first black player to play for Town was??
0

Dissboyitfc added 20:46 - Oct 1 During a 2005 interview with Mike Wallace for television's 60 Minutes news magazine program, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman did say he found the concept of Black History Month to be “ridiculous” and maintained the way to get rid of racism was to “stop talking about it.” He's got a point! sometimes talking about something has the opposite affect. for instance the media mentions a shortage and people panic buy and create the shortage! Racism is disgusting, cant stand it personally and woudnt care what colour someones skin is.

4

billyrobinson3 added 21:04 - Oct 1 Billy Boy I believe the first black player to play for Ipswich was Steve Stacey. He was signed from Wrexham, I cant recall one before him. Billy Boy I believe Steve Stacey was the first Black player to play for Ipswich Town. He was signed from Wrexham, I cant recall a black player before him.
1

BurleysGloryDays added 21:06 - Oct 1 Black History Month is about addressing inequality of understanding because of histories written almost exclusively by white people with little to no understanding of the culture, contribution or celebration of black people. It is simply an opportunity for everyone to take a moment to acknowledge this, and to make an effort to understand those cultures, contributions and let us all celebrate the along the way. We can and should all do that because the insane majority believe, as do the dubious on here, that we are all equal and should be treated as such. But there is still egregious racism in football and beyond. BHM is a little opportunity for us all to redress the imbalances and fight the good fight and hopefully, one day we won't need it anymore and black people will feel truly equal, valued and celebrated for the enormous contributions made.

3

istanblue added 21:38 - Oct 1 Cringe.
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Cadiar added 05:13 - Oct 2 Billyrobinson, I thought Johnny Miller was but you could well be right about Steve Stacey whose debut I saw .against Liverpool I think. . Got a serious injury not long after joining us.
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Europablue added 09:40 - Oct 2 BurleysGloryDays The thing is, how much should the majority who believe in equality amplify the message from bigots? The UK is not a racist country, it used to be, but the big problem of social media is that it gives a feeling that a certain point of view is more prevalent than it is. The social media reaction about the Euros and the whole BLM debate somewhat overshadowed another instance where England came up short based on psychology rather than ability.

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Northstandveteran added 10:06 - Oct 2 Apologies for the down vote blueagain, I was just scrolling through my ancient kindle! 😂
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BurleysGloryDays added 10:34 - Oct 2 EuropaBlue, I agree it's a pity it's needed at all and ‘on the whole' the UK is a reassuringly harmonious place - but the premise of what you're saying is that “a little bit is ok and can be smoothed over or ignored”. Which I know is not what you mean - but it actually represents the problem. These things are cancerous and grow without frequent reinforcement. And they need to be diagnosed and called out immediately and repeatedly. For us in the massive majority you allude to, we can help by doing our bit here. And continue to help people understand when they just don't get it/can't see it, even if they're good people. We take lots of moments to celebrate a lot of things in our culture. This is no different.

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grumpyoldman added 11:40 - Oct 2 I believe Steve Stacey years later accused Sir Bobby of not picking him because of racism, nothing to do with him not being up to the standard required. I do not agree with any special month whether black, gay or any other group. We as a nation are fully aware that discrimination happens within society and we should educate youngsters to accept everybody for what they are, I used to work with schools trying to do this.

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