A Fresh Education

CARGO, founded in Bristol, delivers multimedia learning resources that illuminate the achievements of the African Diaspora. And they’re completely free.

Fourteen years ago Bristol-bred poet Lawrence Hoo and Creative Director Charles Golding began the creative collaboration that would become CARGO. Their aim was creatively to address the lack of substantive, inspiring narratives about the African Diaspora in our culture. It was clear to CARGO’s founders that the lack of positive representation of the African Diaspora in the UK curriculum robs young people of the many role models and inspirations there are to find in history.

The Runnymede Trust Report for Bristol 2017, highlights ethnic minority disadvantages in education, which continue to have a knock-on effect in employment and lifestyle. It says of the curriculum:

“The current curriculum is drawn up by people who are not able to create learning framework which caters for children from different upbringings and cultures. The standard school curriculum therefore favours children from a white mainly middle class background.” CARGO’s core creative projects stem from the collection of poetry CARGO Lawrence published in 2019, which tells the stories of a centuries-long lineage of visionary leaders from the African Diaspora. The individuals that Lawrence shines a light on include Imhotep, Nanny of the Maroons, Marcus Garvey, and Carmen Beckford. To bring the power of these stories to the public, CARGO delivered a multimedia installation which sold out at the Watershed in 2018, before launching CARGO Classroom in 2019.

CARGO Classroom is a set of fresh learning resources CARGO are delivering in collaboration with a team of experienced teachers. The resources serve teachers with their depth and detail, and they draw learners in with beautiful illustrations, evocative films of poetry performances and other rich visual sources. All these resources are openly accessible on CARGO’s website and completely free for all.

“Pressure is mounting on the government to review the national curriculum and make the teaching of black history mandatory for all pupils in schools in England.” - The Guardian, 8 June 2020

Since the first resources were made available at the start of 2020, the response has been overwhelming, with teachers and learners as far afield as Cape Town, South Africa, enjoying the resources in class. Because of its success CARGO was invited into a partnership with the National Education Union of 0.5 millilon educators nationwide, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton’s organisation Mission 44.

Having started with resources for Key Stage 3 History, CARGO is now expanding into STEM resources which will tell the stories of those individuals of the African Diaspora who have contributed to the spheres of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Primary schools will also soon be receiving fun and engaging CARGO resources designed specifically for younger learners.

We talk a lot. We talk about what we want to do, how are we going to do it, but we don’t do, and I love, I love doers. - Olivette Otele FRHistS, historian and Professor of the History of Slavery at Bristol University @angelhynes - This is the only reason I would love to return to the classroom

@_singwithsoul- Can’t wait to do these online lessons with my son, both of us schooled

@Sangeetha- Just saw the trailer for this! I am sooooo excited to teach it. A stunning use of colours art and poetry. Very empowering!

@KaminaWalton- What a brilliant initiative! Congratulations to CARGO for taking up this space.

@Shankari_Raj - We have spent our lives hearing one version of history. The ones that have written/documented history for centuries have been of a certain colour/class/sex. Therefore the truth has been skewed. There is a lot for us to learn. Well done to all those involved.

Other CARGO projects include The Peoples Platform augmented reality installation, supported by Apache and 8th Wall and universalcity. co.uk, an interactive site developed in partnership with the University of Bristol. CARGO has also opened CARGO Loft: a professional studio in central Bristol for local creatives of African and African Diaspora heritage. Located on the Jamaica Street building owned by the Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft, the space offers desk and meeting space, and high spec technical equipment for sound engineering, film making and design. With 24 hour access, residents are invited to make use of the space at no cost, in whatever way will support their practice. CARGO’s projects are supported by Thresholds and Arts Council England. CARGO’s founders have long been dedicated to creatively correcting cultural biases and these projects all contribute to making this a reality. Public responses to CARGO Classroom:

@TRESAcic Whatever our age, we can all benefit from this Key Stage 3 learning tool.