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HBAED was one of only two schools in Southwark to be selected to take part in the ‘Hidden History Club’, to research and create presentations about inspiring figures from Black British History and their modern equivalents.

The boys worked with historian Montaz Marche from the University of Birmingham and Melissa-Jo Smith of Illuminated Arts who took them through the process of identifying their chosen figure.

The boys learned some fundamental research techniques and prepared an innovative but polished one-minute presentation about the two people they linked.

The linked pairs including footballers Marcus Rashford and Walter Tull, and writer Wole Soyinka and boxer Neville Meade.

The presentations were shown live to a panel of historians and public figures for comment and appraisal at a gorgeous event hosted by the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers. The panel included Professor Robert Beckford, ex-HBAED alumni and pro-footballer Joshua Karoma, and Charlie Knaggs of The Worshipful Company.

Students rose to the challenge and delivered high-quality, insightful presentations receiving glowing feedback from the audience. One said: “You should be writing for Stormzy!”, adding “Even distinguished historians haven’t tied poetry with moving image the way you have!”

Keep blowing us away with your wonderful effort, boys! You can find all of the work of Abdurrahim, Stanley, Syria, Joshua, Caleb, Miraj, Ryan, Elijah and Bruno below.

Ms George

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A presentation by Stanley, Joshua and Miraj

Linking writer Wole Soyinka and boxer Neville Meade.

 

 

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British Black History, a poem by Syria

Listen below or click HERE to download Syria's poem.

 

 

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A presentation by Abdurrahim, Caleb and Ryan.

Linking two footballers from different eras - Marcus Rashford and Walter Tull.

 

 

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Scales of Injustice, a poem by Abdurrahim

Dear Mr/Mrs Hater,

How are you doing?

I'm doing just fine

I got a luxury house and people are avoiding me like an explosive trip mine

                             

You broke Scales of Injustice

Tipped by your sleight of hand

You order the tear gas to be ready, batons polished,

Police brutality definitely on demand

 

You say we're wrong,

We say we're right,

I think we're correct,

Since you raid us in the night

 

You could say we all start on an equal playing field,

No hierarchy,

No unprovoked hate,

But that would just be plain lying

 

You give us bad legacies

Fog our futures

Dribble poison into our histories

Why all the misery?

 

Do you treat us bad because of,

Our cause

Our Jaws

Our Flaws

Or is it cos of the laws

Cos I don't see any,

 

Or maybe it's due to,

Admiration,

Appreciation,

Breaking high expectations,

 

Cos you're looking at this as a wild speculation,

 

Mr/Mrs Hater,

Your weighing us down now

But,

There's a worldwide alliance,

Every one of them wanting peace and equality

Showing their defiance

Against the covert and overt tyrants

 

Peaceful protests

Determination in our rights

We set the sights on the world we want to put right

 

When the Anti-Injustices populates across the nation,

Hope, Happiness and Joy sparks like fireworks

 

Bang

Whiz

Pop

 

Each one etching lines in the sky

All saying,

This won't fly.

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The Hidden Histories Club was just one of the projects we are running as part of our commitment to embed anti-racism in the curriculum, and bring student experiences into the classroom not just during Black History Month but throughout the year.