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Posted on October 13th 2021
Black History Month - Black History Is Everyone's History
This month we are marking Black History Month and adding extra events to the many already integrated within our curriculum, celebrating Black history.
Black History Month is a chance to put British Black history front and centre - amplifying strength and success, and including how Black people have been integral to the growth, success, and development of this country.
What's happening
At HBAED, Black British culture and history is becoming part of our whole-school curriculum all year round, yet we will also join the nation in shining a celebratory spotlight on this month.
Here is a brief overview of what's available for staff and students, including our assembly for Black History Month (pictured).
Two HBAED boys, Nate and David in Year 9, have won a writing competition describing the Windrush experience. Leaders of the Windrush Foundation will be visiting our school after half-term to award their prize. The students will also meet the Mayor of Lewisham and/or Southwark as part of their prize. A phenomenal achievement at such a young age!
The CEO of BeReady, Kyle Burrows will deliver a employability skills workshop and Q&A, which is a great opportunity for our next generation of leaders.
Dr. Funke Abimbola MBE, Solicitor, Business Leader and Diversity Campaigner will be delivering a virtual talk to some of our boys, discussing her career and achievements. Because 'students can't be what they can't see'.
We've also partnered with East London Business Alliance, a social mobility charity which builds communications between businesses and the Black community.
Dr Misha Ewen, Curator for Inclusive History at HRP, will explore the lives of women and people of colour associated with the palaces. Discover how their lives shaped the palace and its culture, and how their untold stories challenge the dominant narratives of British history. This event is for staff.
Author of The Good Ally, Nova Reid, will be in conversation with David Harewood, actor, director and author of Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery, in an event streamed live from the National Theatre. This event is for staff.
Black history is British history
Too often we default to a Eurocentric position and part of the groundwork in preparing our students to be global citizens is a school culture where the parallel stories of our students' diverse richness runs alongside Britishness.
This ensures the students feel seen and proud of who they are. As a black student, constantly hearing a victim narrative isn’t empowering. Furthermore, while footballers, popular musicians and actors are important, we can also focus on professors, inventors, politicians, doctors, teachers, architects, poets, artists, scientists, and more.
This is where our teachers and support staff come in, as they highlight and champion Black academic successes as well as our struggles and sporting sensations.
Our school's Anti Racism Group is part of the academy's ongoing commitment to improving racial literacy - for us to unlearn and relearn - and prepare our students for the world ahead.
Happy Black History Month.
In solidarity,
Lianne George and Charlotte Bateson
