When the founders of Black History Month in the UK, headed by Baba Akyaaba Addai-Sebo established the event in African Jubilee Year 34 years ago, engaging young people was considered a fundamental tenet. (1) However, when the major institutions backing the event, the Greater London Council, Inner London Education Authority and the London Strategic Policy Unit were abolished, the responsibility fell to local authorities, whose commitment, varied as it was, could not match the founders. (2)

Thus, to make history work for Afrikan people there is really not an option but for the community to take it in hand – families, education institutions and organisations. The continued absence of this over the years has had a devastating impact on what one educator calls “the cultural streams of income”, that other communities with their religions and languages intact have ready access to and which undergirds their individual and collective achievements. (3) Indeed, Bro. Neil Mayers, founder and director of Raising Black Achievement asserts with reference to Afrikan children:

“Learning Black History is a game changer with respect to building cultural esteem. Once they’re learning the truth about their history and culture, they’re learning about who they really are and can get that knowledge of self. With that new found knowledge comes that increased sense of pride. With the increased levels of pride and self-respect, their personal expectations grow. With greater expectations come higher aspirations of what’s possible… that connection between cultural esteem and high achievement is as relevant to the child trying to get the best grades in high school, as it is to the degree or Masters student or the person trying to start their own business.” (4)

These are the kinds of outcomes the BHM UK founders envisaged and the community is now compelled to turn its attention to how it can be pursued and achieved particularly for those families that do not have the wherewithal to instil Black History in their children. This was the mission of the foundation (“supplementary/Saturday”) school movement established over five decades ago but in recent years it has been beset with closures and even marginalisation. (5) The challenge then is to re-ignite this mission to be undertaken by Foundation Schools, Black History organisations, online providers and anyone else with a stake in our future.

Selected Black History Resources:
https://raisingblackachievement.com/
https://www.nabss.org.uk/
https://blackhistorywalks.co.uk/
https://blackhistorystudies.com/
https://simoneducation.com/black-history/
https://www.theblacksecret.co.uk/

(1) Akyaaba Addai-Sebo and Ansel Wong (Eds) (1988) Our Story – A Handbook of African History and Contemporary Issues. London Strategic Poverty Unit p. 319

(2) Gus John (2006) Taking A Stand: Gus John Speaks on education, race, social action and civil unrest. Gus John Partnership. p. 122, 241; London News Online (30/10/19) Wandsworth borough changes Diversity Month back to Black History Month after criticisms of erasure. https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/wandsworth-borough-changes-diversity-month-back-to-black-history-month-after-criticisms-of-erasure/#google_vignette; Sally Weale and Robert Booth (30/09/18) Councils condemned for ‘shameful’ rebranding of Black History Month. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/30/councils-condemned-for-shameful-rebranding-of-black-history-month;

(3) Raising Black Achievement (02/09/22) The Secret To Improving The Grades Of Black Students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgj8eKnm19o

(4) Ibid.

(5) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (02/09/19) Saturday Schools: An essential resource or outdated operation? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/saturday-schools-an-essential-resource-or-an-outdated-operation-020919/

So we ask the question:

How should we teach Black History to our children?

1) Where do YOU learn about Black History?

2) Do you teach Black History at Home?

3) Do we really lack “the cultural streams of income”?

4) Do we have sufficient resources to teach our history on a mass level?

Our special guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement, Afrikan-Centered Education Consultant and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of nearly 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Sis. Amitiye Lumumba: is a veteran activist, community historian and teacher.  She has been involved in setting up and teaching in a range Supplementary Schools in the community and is currently co-ordinator and teacher in the Alkebu-Lan Academy of Excellence.