People love living in Hammersmith and Fulham. It’s diverse, we care about our neighbours, and we don’t like unfairness. To ensure young Hammersmith and Fulham share in those values too, in the run up to Black History Month this October, we launched an investigation into the borough’s own black history.
During the last academic year 2021-2022 many schools have participated in a number of initiatives and webinars celebrating the borough’s rich diverse community via our Power of Representation sessions.
We are excited to share with you some upcoming events to support your school with Black History Month in October.
13 September 4pm online – National Gallery talk with the Head of Education and School work. The Head of Education at The National Gallery will discuss how you can use a visit to the Gallery and online material to broaden children’s educational palette. Click here to register
27 September 4pm online – The Director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, and distinguished writer and presenter Bonnie Greer, will be introducing materials from the British museum developed for ‘The Breaking the October Barrier’ day on the 6th October. There will be a focus on how these materials can support schools. Click here to register
29th September 1-3pm: Artwork from schools will be displayed at the Lyric Theatre. The theme of the art-work is “Diversity”.
6 October – Launch of the ‘Breaking the October Barrier’ Day. Schools invited to take part in a borough-wide ‘Drop-down’ day.
As we prepare for Black History Month 2022 and inviting schools to be part of Breaking the October barrier Representation 365 on 6 October, the Learning Partnership has set up a resource hub to support your schools with resources and activities.
The resources below have been created in partnership with the British Museum to support Black History Month 2022 for all key stages in schools.
Below you will find short videos you can use in your classroom about prominent black figures in history that relate to the national curriculum.
Since the 1950s, Black people have played an important role in ITV programmes. This timeline celebrates those who pushed through doors, broke glass ceilings and changed attitudes by appearing on mainstream television. These trailblazers paved the way for future Black TV stars in the UK.
WATCH – A story of a Windrush generation girl who came to Britain in 1960 from the Caribbean. Adapted from the book Coming to England, which was written for children everywhere. Click here
In order to educate our pupils on this important event in Black British History, I attach some resources and educational videos to be shared with your classes.
The Windrush Song (Excellent starter for all year groups!)
‘I couldn’t find images of us that I recognised. I could find lots of parodies of black womanhood. So something new was needed. Something that I felt was more authentic.’ Claudette Johnson –Clickhereto explore now
As a child, Kemi took the day off school to see the newly elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, on his historic trip to Brixton, following 27 years imprisonment for campaigning against Apartheid Rule, joining with thousands of others for this momentous occasion, in July 1996.
Join Kemi as she explores the inspiration behind her book – which is a creative reimagining of that day, reads a chapter or two and for a few creative activities for children to take part in! Copies will be available to purchase after the session. – Please register for a tickethere
Remembering Slavery. Update from Urbanwise.
The resource aims to inform and enrich teaching and learning about the Transatlantic Slave trade and its consequences by tracing the links of people and places in Hammersmith and Fulham to enslavement, the slave trade and its abolition. It traces the lives of enslaved Africans and their descendants, detailing their presence and experiences in the local area. It also celebrates the contribution of the black community to the development of this diverse, multicultural borough.
WATCH– A short film of a Black History walk in Notting Hill / Portobello Road for local residents and people interested in this aspect of British History. We worked with a local young actor and musician, Emmanuel Simon, as the storyteller. We filmed him on a walk along Portobello and Golborne roads, telling the story of this area’s rich black history, including the arrival of the Windrush, the founding of the carnival, racism experienced by arrivals from the Caribbean and the wonderful musical heritage. A member of our staff researched the history and help create the script and film. Co-produced and edited by Alex Diaz (alxdz.co.uk / th3cult.co.uk) with the collaboration of local artist Renata Fernandez (www.renatafernandez.com) for portraits. Thanks to our funders Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund (Young Grenfell Fund)
Download booklet – Black history timeline pre and post 19oo.
People love living in Hammersmith and Fulham. It’s diverse, we care about our neighbours, and we don’t like unfairness. To ensure young Hammersmith and Fulham share in those values too, in the run up to Black History Month this October, we launched an investigation into the borough’s own black history.