B L AC K
H I S TO RY M O N T H 2 0 2 3
.
.
1
FOREWORD This year Canford is once again using October to promote discussion around Black history. The national theme, Saluting Sisters, asks us to highlight the achievements and contributions of black women through history. At Canford we try to shine a light on individuals or groups at different points in the academic year. During October, we hope to have discussions about inspirational black women.You will see some of these figures presented in our keynote assembly. There will be an opportunity to research and discuss key figures in a tutor time activity. We will also have faces of ‘Sheroes’ displayed in the servery for our Black History Month celebration meal. Whilst many argue that a month is not enough, we hope that at Canford raising awareness in October leads to year-long conversation about racial equality. The Black History Month programme details activities that are happening at a whole school level and within classrooms during October.
RICHARD REDWOOD Assistant Head Personal Development
2
19TH OCTOBER, 11.30AM, MUSIC SCHOOL FROM CHILD SOLIDER TO AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN
VOICES
SHAUN FLORES At 27 years old, Shaun was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Since then, he has used his experience to help dismantle dated and untrue beliefs about OCD by partnering with various charities. Additionally, this diagnosis ultimately led him down a path of self-discovery; from being consumed by fear and depression to recognising himself as an advocate for those affected by OCD. It took the assistance of a therapist to whom he promised to help others as a to thank you for Shaun’s healing journey to begin - but now it is safe for us all to say that Shaun has gone from survivor to thriver with OCD. He is also a public speaker with three TEDx Talks,TEDx 2018, TEDx 2022, and TEDx 2023. In 2018 Shaun gave a TEDx Talk about the education system and how we can do more to ensure no one is left behind. His second TEDx talk was on “The straitjacket of masculinity and male mental health” in 2022. His third TEDx entitled “The revolution is through the mind, the power of the upcoming psychedelic revolution” about why drug policy and drug laws are preventing the research into psychedelic treatment that could potentially help many individuals with their mental health struggles. TEDx 2023 looked into the potential power of psychedelic treatment for mental heath which is being hindered by drug law and drug policy.
EMMANUEL JAL 20TH OCTOBER, 12.00PM, ASSEMBLY HALL FROM CHILD SOLIDER TO AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN “I grew up in South Sudan where my country was torn apart by a civil war between the predominantly Arab North and the African tribes from the South. I was separated from my family and recruited as a child soldier. The oppression I faced robbed me of everything, including my sense of worth. In order to overcome my many obstacles, I had to turn things around for myself. My story helps young people learn about the causes and effects of poverty, war, hatred and racism, but my focus isn’t on the problem but rather the way forward. My only escape was by using the opportunities I had, to expand my mind and increase my selfdevelopment. I’ve spent 15 years speaking to youth from across the globe and campaigning for peace and equality to the highest tiers of government. This educational pack is designed to inspire, as well as offer practical solutions for a more healthy and inclusive society; which not only celebrates diversity but holds value to the stories and lessons learnt through black experience.”
3
EVENTS
3RD OCTOBER Black History Month Assembly
9TH OCTOBER Black History Month Tutor activity
11TH OCTOBER Black History Month Meal Menu selected by our EDI Pupil Leaders to celebrate the heritage of pupils at Canford.
13TH OCTOBER Black History Month Debate 4.40-5.20PM JOHN O’GAUNTS ‘This House Believes that nations should apologise and pay reparations for crimes committed in the past.’
18TH OCTOBER Rachel Lines, Head of History Talk Speaking about Inspirational Black Women from History. 5.00-5.30PM EGDON
4
ENGLISH:
We will be marking BHM in Fourth Form where we are celebrating the diverse range of poetry on the IGCSE syllabus by student led performances and presentations. Lower and Upper Sixth, who are studying American Literature, will be taught about Black American history and how it weaves into American Literature. This will be ongoing throughout the year.
IN LESSONS
IN LESSONS ...
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
We are teaching the topic of ‘Immigration and Multicultural societies’ to the Sixth form.
PE:
We will be considering underrepresented groups in sport and will focus on ethnicity and sport. We will discuss discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, barriers to participation and possible solutions.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS:
With the Fourths, we will be profiling the entrepreneur, Steven Bartlett. In the Lower Sixth we will conduct an investigation into the macro-economic performance of countries such as Botswana. We will also consider financing in countries such as Nigeria. In the Upper Sixth we will research into the economist Arthur Lewis and discuss how Sharon White, director of John Lewis, is reshaping and developing the business.
MATHS:
In Shell lessons teachers will consider the work of black mathematician, Benjamin Banneker.
CLASSICS:
With Shells (and other Latin classes) we will look at the diversity of Rome in 64AD. We will discuss the diversity of the Empire in general, including some recent burials excavated in London which have identified people from Africa, Syria and Egypt. With Lower Sixth classes, we will study the Aethiopian prince Memnon who fought Achilleus during the myth cycle. In the Upper Sixth we will study the warrior Queen Amenishaketo from Kush (modern Sudan and the Sahel) and the threat she posed to Augustus’ domination of Egypt and the Nubian Pharonic dynasty.
5
PHILOSOPHY:
IN LESSONS
Shells will consider the portrayal of Jesus - ‘Who is God?’ With the Fourths we will consider ‘The Philosophers you need to know about’ and William Wilberforce and the slave trade.
BIOLOGY:
In the lower school we will study Henrietta Lacks, the ‘owner’ of the HeLa cell line, cells taken originally without her consent or that of her family. We will also look at the story of John Edmonstone, a former enslaved person who taught Darwin how to do taxidermy. With Sixth Form we will consider ‘the lack of biological evidence supporting the concept of race’. Making reference to ‘How to argue with a racist’ by Adam Rutherford, examining the complicated legacy of Charles Darwin.
PHYSICS:
To dovetail with our study of orbits, we intend to walk and talk through one of the problems solved by Katherine Johnson and team (dramatized in the film hidden figures) to help put the first American into orbit around the earth.
DRAMA:
We will incorporate themes relating to BHM into our Shell teaching as we introduce them to explorative drama strategies. We will continue with our teaching of Noughts and Crosses at GCSE. We will look at recordings of ‘Small Island’ and ‘The Mysteries’ as we prepare for the Live Evaluation unit at A Level and GCSE.
HISTORY:
In lessons, pupils in all year groups will be exploring black history alongside their current topics in ‘meanwhile, elsewhere in Black History’. Pupils will explore prominent individuals and events linked to their studies and draw links across History. The Fourth Form and the Upper Sixth will also be studying Civil Rights in the USA as part of their GCSE and A Level.
POLITICS:
In Politics we will be watching a video on Lord Constantine - the first black member of the House of Lords and discussing representation in the Houses of Parliament.
6
All books are available from Canford School Library
UK AUTHORS BHM 2023 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BBMC •
The Black History Book (2021)
•
Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri (2020)
•
Dreams From my Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama (1995)
•
The Good Ally by Nova Reid (2022)
•
In Black and White: A Young Barrister’s Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System by Alexandra Wilson (2021)
•
It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime, Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (2019)
•
Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernadine Evaristo (2022)
•
Natives by Akala (2018)
•
Rise Up: The Merky Story So Far by Stormzy (2019)
•
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho (2021)
•
Unheard Voices collected by Malorie Blackman (2007)
•
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo (2019)
•
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (2017)
•
You Can Do It: How to Find Your Voice and Make a Difference by Marcus Rashford (2022)
WATCH & READ
EXTENDED READING:
NON-FICTION •
Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible by Yomi Adegoke (2018)
•
They Don’t Teach This by Eniola Aluko and Josie Le Blond (2020)
•
I Heard What You Said by Jeffrey Boakye (2022)
•
Making It: How Love, Kindness and Community Helped Me Repair My Life by Jay Blades and Ian Gittins (2022)
•
Black Joy by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (2023)
•
The Beautiful Struggle: A Memoir by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2021)
•
Africa is Not a Country: Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa by Dipo Faloyin (2022)
•
How to Raise an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi (2021)
•
Black and British: A Short Essential History by David Olusoga (2020)
•
100 Great Black Britons by Patrick Vernon and Angelina Osborne (2021)
POETRY •
Bloodshot Monochrome by Patience Agbabi (2008)
•
And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou (1986)
•
Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (2020)
•
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman (2021)
•
Cane, Corn & Gully by Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa (2022)
•
Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde (2017)
•
The Fire People: A Collection of Contemporary Black British Poets collected by Lemn Sissay (2022)
•
Her Blue Body Everything We Know by Alice Walker (1996)
7
FICTION
WATCH & READ
8
•
A Change Is Gonna Come by various authors (2017)
•
The Dark Lady by Akala (2022)
•
My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (2019)
•
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2017)
•
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson (2021)
•
Small Island by Andrea Levy (2004)
•
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2020
•
Kemosha of the Caribbean by Alex Wheatle (2022)
•
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (2022)
•
Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah (2020)
Canford School, Wimbor ne , Dor set, BH21 3AD 01202 841254 office@canford.com
9