In news rich in symbolism many Afrikan children may not be returning to school this week due to the “critical risk to life” from crumbling concrete panels in hundreds and possibly thousands of school buildings. (1)
Even if they manage to dodge falling debris, the experience of many will be woefully familiar:
“Black children are more likely to face disproportionate disciplinary procedures and be excluded. They face discriminatory hair policies, and, when their speech is deemed to differ from “standard” or “academic” English, they face anti-black linguistic racism. ” (2)
Once upon a time Imani-day (Sat) schools “represented a critical challenge to the mainstream curriculum” (3) but not only have we generally failed to parlay them in to full-time institutions they are struggling for their very existence. (4)
But even if we were butress the Imani-day school movement and make the UK school environment less hostile for our children. Speaking at Alkebu-Lan Shumira on Osagyefo (Sept) 3rd Bro. Chukwueneka Quamina suggests our scope needs to be far wider:
“Institution building is the only way. Talking about reclaiming our children but we don’t stop with the children. We can build schools – and we haven’t got there yet – but let’s say we build schools. When they leave the schools then what? We’re still gonna send them to go work for someone else. We need to have a complete pathway, from start to finish that locks us in and our children in to the liberation fight , to our community from education, to employment and further than that. That’s where our mindsets need to be. ” (5)
He emphasised that to do this we need to be in control of the “factors of production” (manufacturing, distribution, labour, services, etc) within our community. As a framework he referred to that proposed by the interim National Afrikan Peoples Parliament (iNAPP) whose manifesto included proposed policy positions on Politics and Governance, Education and Training, Law & Justice, Health and Wellness, Finance and Economics, Spirituality & Culture, Reparation and Afrika. (6)
(1) Peter Walker (04/09/23) ASunak refused to fully fund repairs of England’s crumbling schools, says ex-official. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/sep/04/england-crumbling-schools-rishi-sunak-repairs-civil-servant; Jon Stone and Maryam Zakir-Hussain (04/09/23) Parents still in dark on concrete crisis as pupils return to school despite ‘thousands more buildings at risk. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/concrete-school-closures-sunk-jeremy-hunt-b2404282.html
(2) Ian Cushing (24/03/23) How Black children in England’s schools are made to feel like the way they speak is wrong. hhttps://theconversation.com/how-black-children-in-englands-schools-are-made-to-feel-like-the-way-they-speak-is-wrong-198830
(3) Kehinde Andrews (2013) Race Equality Teaching: Black supplementary schools: Addressing the declining attendance. IOE Press. p. 35-38 http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/ioep/14788551/v32n1/s6.pdf?expires=1536595425&id=0000&titleid=72010449&checksum=CF968174A431795D44B6E04FDF72721D
(4) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (02/09/19) Saturday Schools: An essential resource or an outdated operation? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/saturday-schools-an-essential-resource-or-an-outdated-operation-020919/
(5) Chukwueneka Quamina (03/098/23) Reclaiming Our Watoto (Children): A Voice From The Village. Message at Alkebu-Lan Shumira, London.
(6) iNAPP Interim National Organising Committee (28/11/15) MANIFESTO: Working Draft For Community Consultation. interim National Afrikan Peoples Parliament
we ask the question:
What do we want for our children?
1) Why the environment seem to be improving for Afrikan children in UK schools?
2) Will we ever be able to convert Imani-day (Sat) schools in to full-time institutions?
3) Do we really need “a complete pathway that locks us in the liberation fight”?
4) How do we get to control of the “factors of production” in our community?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
SIGN: Justice for Black SEN children and families. STOP failures, Save lives: https://www.change.org/p/stop-failures-in-the-system?source_location=se
SIGN: Stop Anti African racism in Tunisia – https://chng.it/5MVRbCD2sn