September 29, 2015
Britain prides itself on being a country full of multiple cultures, races and backgrounds, and with black history being such a very real part of British past, it would be wrong not to explore this topic with children. Black History Month is such an opportunity.
The saying goes: if you understand and reflect on the mistakes made in the past you can move forward and ensure that they are not repeated in the future. Teaching black history in schools allows children to examine topics of colonialism, racism, and migration, helping them to develop a sense of acceptance and understanding between various ethnic groups.
Not only that, but the teaching of black history exposes pupils to some fiercely determined, and powerful public figures, speakers and leaders. Take Dr Martin Luther King Jr. His “I Have a Dream” speech is still one of the most famous and poignant speeches in history, and was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.
And what about Rosa Parks? She was labelled the “mother of the freedom movement”, as she refused to give up her bus seat to a white civilian. Parks’ brave act of defiance made her a historic icon of resistance to racial segregation. And finally Nelson Mandela, the ex-South African President who spent 27 years in prison due to his battle to overcome racism has been labelled by some as a terrorist, and other as a hero.
Only 100 years ago, few could have imagined that African Americans could be appreciated in the global community for their speeches and talents. But this change came not by chance, but by their struggles and determination to alter how the world viewed black people and their history.
But the celebration of black history this year in 2015 is more significant than ever, as we mark 100 years since the Association for the Study of African American Life and History was founded. The theme for this year is entitled “A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture”. To ensure that your school can acknowledge this important event, we have launched a dedicated Black History Month drama workshop for KS2. This workshop explores the influences of figures like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela, examines the Civil Rights Movement and celebrates the achievements of these great people throughout history and in modern times.
Love Victoria and the One Day Team x