Why Black history should be taught in schools / Listen up: Black-fronted podcasts

Image: National Geographic Kids Image: The Guardian

The murder of George Floyd and the subsequent global Black Lives Matter protests have seen a fresh demand for curriculums to be decolonised, targeting the whitewashing that is prevalent in all levels of academia. Schools in particular have had pressure put on them to study the work of Black authors, educate children on Black culture and, most importantly, teach Black history. There are numerous reasons why this is not only crucial, but also benefcial. Racism is learned and taught, not inherited – by educating children on Black history it can be hoped that society will learn to recognise and celebrate the contribution black lives have made to the progression of our country, rather than be ignorant or ignore it. Currently, the education system is failing young people, particularly those from minority ethnic backgrounds who are not being taught about their history within Britain, taking away from their sense of identity and belonging. To fully appreciate the role Black lives have had in Britain, we must overhaul the current imperialist agenda, and move away from the idea that Black history can be taught for one month of the year in a tokenistic gesture to satisfy diversity quotas. We must cultivate a deeper understanding of how nuanced history is - recognising the impacts of European colonialists, celebrating the contributions of black individuals to technological and social developments, but also recognise where failures have occurred so that we can learn from them. Teaching Black history year-round sends a message that it is not a part of our past that can be overlooked or ignored, nor is it a ‘separate body’ of information, but rather a key part of the fabric that has built our society and should be taught as such. Moreover, the Macpherson Report produced in 1994 found that if cultural diversity within the curriculum was improved, racism within schools would lessen. The government has also been advised to ‘ensure history lessons are relevant to all young people in Britain’ as a remedy to the underachievement and disaffection currently experienced by young Black people.

Image: Time Magazine

There is clearly a pressing and very real need for change to be made to our national history curriculum. What’s important is that we do not forget the gravity of this matter in the ever-present whirl of fast-journalism and 24-hour news. Let George Floyd’s death be a fashpoint in modern history – a time when, as a society we decided to champion diversity and inclusion, teaching children about how their past is shaping their present, rather than letting it pass us by.

The Receipts: Dishing out some of the most frank, real and hilarious advice of any podcast Agony Aunts, hosts Milena, Tolly T and Audrey are all heart and no flter. Recent guests have included Tinie Tempah, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne and Ncuti Gatwa (aka Eric from Sex Education) but the real highlights always come from the “Your Receipts” episodes, where listeners send in their personal dilemmas to receive no-holds-barred solutions. Problems have included sleeping with married men, becoming friends with your ex-partner and what to do if your boyfriend’s mum keeps pooing in the bath. Listening to the show feels like a never-ending brunch with three straight-talking best friends who are guaranteed to have you crying with laughter. Episode Pick: 95. Beautiful Black Sister – Amidst side-splitting recollections of budget child beauty pageants and impressions of Anne Robinson, Audrey and Tolly highlight their love of black emojis, the problem with Little Britain and their experiences of colourism. Who We Be TALKS: Made to accompany Spotify’s biggest Hip-Hop, Afrobeat, Dancehall and RnB playlist, this podcast is for all the behind the scenes gossip from your favourite artists. Harry Pinero and Henrie strike the perfect balance between keeping the chat light-hearted while also delving deep into the lives and backstories of their guests. This is the show to celebrate Black culture and the music that comes from it. Episode Pick: S3 E9 feat. Koffee, Spice, Bunji Garlin and Mike Anthony: Carnival is a Contact Arena – To mark what would have been the build-up to the iconic Notting Hill Carnival, Harry and Henrie speak to Spice, the true Queen of Dancehall, Grammy-winning Reggae upstart Koffee as well as Bunji Garlin and Mike Anthony. Regain those summer vibes with this ultimate favour of carni season!

The History Hotline: In true BHM style, it would be wrong to omit a podcast dedicated to the rich but often overlooked story of Black history in Britain. Created by Deanna Lyncook, a Masters student at the University of Birmingham, The History Hotline gives a thorough, clear and accessible overview of a topic of Black British History in each episode. This summer’s Black Lives Matter movement called on people to educate themselves and listening to this podcast would undoubtedly be a useful part of that process. Episode Pick: The British Black Panthers – Across the pond, the legacy of the Black Panther Party is well-known throughout the black community but few know that the UK has its own version of the movement. Deanna does a wonderful job of explaining the differences in historical context between the two and highlighting what the community organisation managed to achieve.

Image: PNG and Icons Growing Up With gal-dem: The frst ever podcast from the media company that champions women and non-binary people of colour, Growing Up chronicles the early life of a different guest each week through diary entries, letters and text messages from their younger selves. With the inevitable cringing from guests such as Clara Amfo and Michaela Coel at their mid-noughties text speak and overly-sentimental love letters, Liv Little and Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff encourage guests to take a good-humoured yet nuanced view of their past. The show is raw, funny and profoundly revealing in equal measure as it explores the challenges of our formative years and how they continue to affect us throughout our lives. Episode Pick: Munroe Bergdof on ending toxic relationships – The model and transgender activist revisits a WhatsApp chat from an ex-partner whose politics became more radically right-wing towards the end of their relationship. Her earnest account examines the experience of a declining romance, the turmoil of emotional abuse and how queer people must unlearn the impulse to seek validation in heteronormativity.