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Uncover Your Family History with the 1921 UK Census

Are you curious about your family’s history? Do you want to find out more about your ancestors and their lives? The 1921 UK Census is a great tool to help you uncover the stories of your family’s past.

What is the 1921 UK Census?

The 1921 UK Census is a record of the population of England and Wales taken on the night of 19 June 1921. It includes information on each person’s name, age, gender, marital status, occupation, place of birth and address. It also includes details about their family members, such as children and other relatives. This census was the first to include questions about health and disability, which can provide valuable insight into your ancestors’ lives.

How Can You Access the 1921 UK Census?

The 1921 UK Census is available online through various websites such as Ancestry.co.uk or Findmypast.co.uk. These websites allow you to search for records by name or address and view images of the original documents. You can also access the census records through local libraries or archives in England and Wales.

What Can You Learn from the 1921 UK Census?

The 1921 UK Census can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors’ lives. You can learn about their occupations, where they were born and where they lived at the time of the census. You can also find out who their family members were and what their relationships were like. This information can help you to build a picture of your family’s history and uncover stories from generations past.

The 1921 UK Census is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to trace their family history. With its wealth of information, it can help you uncover stories from generations past and gain insight into your ancestors’ lives.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Black History Month resources

UPDATED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023

October marks Black History Month in the UK. To help you raise awareness and celebrate the achievements, history and contribution of black people with your students, we've hand-picked this selection of resources including lessons, worksheets, activities and assemblies focusing on key figures, movements and events in black history. From the Civil Rights Campaign, Windrush and Apartheid to significant figures such as Mary Seacole, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, we have plenty of resources ready for you to download and use with your classes.

Activities and worksheets

A diverse collection of activities and worksheets to share with your students in lessons, form time or for morning work this October. From independent research tasks and comprehension worksheets to creative craft activities, there's plenty to choose from. 

Black History Month: Writing Activities

Windrush Reading List

Black History Month: Research Activities for Teens

Black History Month Quiz

Black British Firsts

Black History Month POP-UP Craftivity

Black History Month Activity Sheet

Black History Month Female Firsts Chatterboxes

Black History Month Word Search

Black Inventors Pelmanism Game (Black History Month)

Black History Month

Mary Seacole Comprehension

Famous Black Scientists, Engineers & Inventors Crossword Puzzle

UKS2 Rosa Parks Reading Comprehension Activity

Lessons and units of work

Whether you are looking for subject-inspired content or simply looking for something to share with your students we have black history lessons and units of work covering a range of topics and themes. 

The Race Issue in America

Black history month lesson

Hidden Figures Pretty Curious classroom resource

Civil Rights: The Jim Crow Era

Black Tudors

African nurses (in the NHS and earlier)

KS3 and KS4 English - 'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard

Black History Month UK

KS2 Lubaina Himid Art activities Black History Month

Empire Windrush: Early Black Presence

What was the significance of Rosa Parks in the Civil Rights Movement?

Assemblies and display resources.

Presentation and display resources to support you in celebrating Black History Month with your students and spark discussions in assembly or smaller group settings. From exploring what Black History Month is and how and why we celebrate it to breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes, there's something for everyone. 

Black History Month Classroom Door Display

Black History Month Assembly

Black History Month Assembly - October

Hidden Figures Breaking Barriers assembly

Black History Month Classroom Decor Poster Set, African American History, History Classroom, Classro

Black History Month Listening Calendar

Black History Month - Black Scientist Trail

The (incomplete) Lit in Colour book list 2022 Edition: KS3-5

Black experiences hub.

We've partnered with BBC, Into Film and The Black Curriculum to bring you a selection of resources on black British history, anti-racism and much more.

Penguin Lit in Colour

Resources and research from the Penguin and Runnymede Trust Lit in Colour campaign, which aims to support schools to make the teaching and learning of English literature more inclusive of writers of colour.

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Black History Month - Teacher Resources

BBC Teach > Educational Calendar

When is Black History month?

Black History Month takes place every October in the UK. In the United States, it is celebrated in February.

Black History Month resources

You can use this collection of teaching resources to explore black history, heritage, culture and achievements with your class.

Below you'll find content suitable for use with both primary and secondary school pupils. Each resource is accompanied by teacher notes to aid classroom use.

For teacher CPD, you can read this article by Josiah Isles , an assistant headteacher who has written about his experiences within the education system as a black teacher in the UK.

And we have a series of short films to help support teachers to be an ally to students from black, South Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds.

You can also catch up on our panel discussion programme, Beyond Black History Month , in partnership with TES. This programme was originally broadcast live on 21 October 2020 and features ideas and best practice around teaching black and diverse histories and experiences.

Primary - KS1/5-7

Meet six extraordinary people, including Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano, and explore their contribution to British history.

Black British History

Children's TV presenter Nigel Clarke celebrates the lives of six extraordinary people and their contribution to British history.

Primary - KS2/7-11

From Black British stories - a collection of short films exploring the experiences and contributions of people from communities across the UK, to the life of Rosa Parks and an assembly framework about Martin Luther King , we have plenty of Black History KS2 resources for you to discover with your students.

Black British Stories

A collection of short films for primary schools, exploring the experiences and contributions of people from communities across the UK, and celebrating the rich contribution of the black community to the culture, society and economy of the UK.

The life of Mary Seacole

The life of Victorian nurse Mary Seacole is told in three short video episodes aimed at 7-11 year-olds.

Watch again: Literacy Live Lesson 3 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee explore the inspirational lives and contributions of black writers, musicians, activists and more. Together with guest readers Angelica Bell and David Lammy, they explain how language is used in songs and speeches to inspire us, demonstrate the importance of proof-reading, and challenge pupils to write about their dreams for a better world.

The life and work of Rosa Parks

This short film explains how Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus changed the rules of American society.

The life and work of Harriet Tubman

In this short drama Harriet Tubman explains how she escaped slavery and then helped others to do so.

Pablo Fanque – The greatest Victorian showman

A short film about the life and work of Pablo Fanque, a famous equestrian performer from the Victorian era.

The life and work of Florence Price

Trailblazing composer Florence Price was the first black female to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Discover more about Florence and her music with BBC Ten Pieces.

The life and work of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Composer, sportsman, fashionista - Joseph Bologne was an 18th century superstar. Find out more about the man and his music with BBC Ten Pieces.

School Radio - The memory of Dr Martin Luther King's speech

In this short audio clip we hear from a woman who remembers, as a girl, being taken by her father to hear Dr Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Rosa Parks

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Rosa Parks.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Mary Seacole

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Mary Seacole.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Dr Martin Luther King

A framework for delivering an assembly based around Dr Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream...' speech.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement

A framework for delivering an assembly about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Discuss Black History with your secondary students through use of these resources, including Migrants , in which David Olusoga investigates the lives and experiences of migrants to and from Britain throughout history, and Small Axe - a series of short educational films exploring the lives of London's West Indian community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, produced alongside the BBC One collection of films directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen.

This short film for secondary schools looks at the New Cross house fire of 1981, and the protests, unrest and accusations of indifference that followed and defined race relations for a generation.

Subnormal - A British Scandal

This short film for secondary schools examines how black children in the 1960s and 1970s were disproportionately sent to schools for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’.

Black Power - A British Story of Resistance

This short film for secondary schools looks at the Black Power movement in the 1960s in the UK, surveying both the individuals and the cultural forces that defined the era.

The Colour of my Skin - Real stories of racism in the UK

This powerful collection of short animated films uses real testimony from young people of colour to explore personal experiences of racism, bullying and isolation. These are real stories of racism in the UK.

Short educational films exploring the lives of London's West Indian community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, produced alongside the BBC One collection of films directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen. These films combine extracts from Steve McQueen's collection of films with archive and bespoke narration, to bring significant moments from recent black British history to life for students.

Stephen Lawrence: The murder that changed a nation

Three short films from a BBC documentary examining the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Exploring identity, diversity, institutional racism and justice.

What made WW1 a truly global war?

David Olusoga explores stories of colonial troops serving in World War One in these short films for secondary schools.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

In this series of short documentary-style films, historian David Olusoga explores new historical evidence of slavery in 1830s Britain.

A series of short films in which historian David Olusoga investigates the lives and experiences of migrants to and from Britain throughout history.

Immigration to London from Ghana and Jamaica

Teenager Elliott talks to his grandfather about his first impressions of London as an immigrant from Ghana and his grandmother about the racism they experienced because of their mixed race marriage.

'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard

John Agard explores and performs his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.

The American Civil War

Andrew Marr analyses 1860s America and the American Civil War, explaining how the conflict, and Abraham Lincoln, changed American history forever.

The origins of blues and ragtime

Howard Goodall explores the origins of blues music and ragtime and looks at how the invention of recorded music popularised folk and spiritual African American music.

Nelson Mandela - Freedom fighter and South Africa's first black president

Sir Trevor McDonald reports on Nelson Mandela, who went from freedom fighter to become South Africa's first black president.

Dr Martin Luther King - American Civil Rights leader

Sanjeev Bhaskar finds out how Dr Martin Luther King advanced the Civil Rights movement in America through non-violent resistance.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Becoming a space scientist

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock explains why being different is no barrier to success if you are passionate about something.

Ronnie Ochero: Becoming a games artist

Ronnie Ochero turned his childhood obsession of playing video games into a career, by making them. For Ronnie, it was a natural process to go from playing games to inventing them.

Aiyshat Akanbi: Becoming a fashion stylist

Meet Aiyshat Akanbi. She’s a determined, fashion-forward young stylist. In this short film we see her attention to detail and passion for fabric and colour put to good use, as we follow her at work designing ‘tour’ looks for her client, the rapper Labrinth.

Ade Adepitan: Becoming a Paralympic champion

Paralympic champion Ade Adepitan explains that he lost the use of his legs as a result of childhood polio, but decided to become an athlete after becoming obsessed with the Olympic Games as a boy.

Christine Ohuruogu: Becoming an Olympic champion

In her own words, Christine Ohuruogu tells the story of how she became a top athlete.

Across the BBC

How Black History month is celebrated around the world

BBC Own It - Do you know these Black tech inventors?

This quiz will test how much your pupils know about Black people through history who have made a big contribution to technology, and the digital world as we know it today!

CBBC - Black History Month

Discover Black History Month with clips, quizzes and stories from across CBBC

Dads and daughters discuss history and identity

On this CBeebies page, younger pupils can watch dads and daughters discussing everything from Rosa Parks to the Jamaican football team.

Horrible Histories - Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, Oti Mabuse brings you a selection of Horrible Histories sketches and songs featuring Rosa Parks, Civil War spy Mary Bowser, pioneering boxer Bill Richmond, plus Mary Seacole and Martin Luther King Jr.

Watch again: Authors Live - Catherine Johnson

Watch with your class to find out how history can inspire creative writing. Catherine Johnson is an award-winning author and screenwriter who has used historical settings in many of her novels – and she reveals some of her secrets! Designed for schools in Scotland, P5 – S2.

What was the slave trade?

This Newsround guide offers an introduction to the slave trade, including how slaves were treated and how slavery was abolished.

Newsround special on US protests and racism (9 June 2020)

De-Graft Mensah presents a Newsround special all about fairness, protest and people coming together to reject racism.

BBC Radio 1xtra celebrates Black History Month

Celebrating African and Caribbean heritage, watch and listen to documentaries and interviews with Jazzie B, Alexandra Burke and Labrinth.

Black History Month resources

A set of resources for schools and colleges for Black History Month, focusing on mental health themes.

This resource belongs to the resource hub for classroom and wellbeing support .

• Format Toolkit • Assembly plans • Classroom activities • Lesson plans

Black History Month takes place every year in October across the world.  

The month presents an opportunity for children and young people to learn more about Black history and to celebrate the contributions Black people have made to society. This year, Black History Month is dedicated to honouring the achievements of Black women, with the theme of ‘saluting our sisters’.   

You may have already planned some curriculum content around Black History Month, looking at cultural or historical Black figures.  

The resources shared here focus on mental health themes, helping schools to explore ideas around diversity, self-belief, identity and the impact of racism on those who experience it. 

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Black History Month

October is Black History Month in the UK. The event recognises black people's achievements and educates people about black history.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.

Preparation

Magazine: Black History Month – preparation

Introduction

The history of our world is a story of migration, diversity, empire and belonging. But these topics are not often taught in schools. Black History Month is about teaching ourselves fully and fairly about our history, and not just looking at it from one point of view. Black History Month challenges racism and promotes understanding by making sure that black people's achievements and stories are not ignored.

The origins of Black History Month

The idea for Black History Month started in the USA with the work of Carter G Woodson. He was a brilliant historian and in 1912 he became the second African American to get a doctorate from Harvard University. He was the son of people who had been enslaved, and he saw how the role of his people in American history was being ignored. He started 'Negro History Week' because he believed that teaching black history was essential to give descendants of African people a sense of pride and identity and to protect them within wider society. 

Black History Month in the UK

Black History Month in the UK was first celebrated in 1987. It was organised by community activist and London council worker Akyaaba Addai Sebo after a colleague told him that her son had asked her, 'Mum, why can't I be white?' Addai Sebo was sad to learn of the young boy's lack of self-esteem and his low sense of identity. So an event was organised to promote self-pride in people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent through positive teaching of their histories and culture.

Black history, current protests and historical statues

Following the killing of George Floyd in the USA in May 2020, there has been huge international support for the Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice. People want to talk about racism in our society – in our educational, political and justice systems – and how we can stop it. Part of this change involves thinking about how we educate ourselves and others about history. In June 2020, anti-racism protesters in the UK took down the statue of Edward Colston – a man who bought and sold enslaved people – and pushed it into the water in Bristol Harbour. Some people say acts such as these are destroying our history. Others argue that the protestors have actually helped to teach history – the ugly story of a man who transported 84,000 enslaved individuals from Africa to the Americas, 19,000 of them dying on his ships. The debate about what to do with public statues like this continues.

Black history all year round

The Black Curriculum is a group started by young people who want black British history to be taught in UK schools. They say that learning about empire, movement and migration helps young people build a sense of identity and improves social cohesion. Black history is a central part of British history, and learning about it is necessary for understanding diversity and fighting racism. The Black Curriculum and groups like it are asking the UK government to include black histories in lessons all year round, not just in October. This will make sure students get lessons that are relevant to them and that give them a positive sense of belonging. 

Magazine: Black History Month – 1

Magazine: Black History Month – 2

Is one month enough for black history?

Language level

I think it is enough if we are studying with dedication and give 3 to 4hour daily about black history and with in one month we easily know about the black people

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Black History Month resources

Added 30 Sep 2023 | Updated 25 Oct 23

What is Black History Month?

In the UK, Black History Month falls in October each year, and is a great time to learn about and celebrate Black history and heritage. However, Black history can, and should, be recognised and celebrated all year round.

Black History Month free teaching resources

This year for Black History Month we’re celebrating Black literary history and shining the spotlight on some of our favourite Black authors, illustrators and iconic characters from children’s books. The resources have been developed to honour and uplift familiar and inspirational Black authors and illustrators, and are classroom activities that can be delivered anytime in the year.

All resources are free to download on this page.

Activities for pupils aged 5-7 years (KS1): Iconic Black characters and response ideas

• This classroom activity provides the opportunity for pupils to learn about a selection of iconic Black characters within some of our favourite children’s books. Through character response activities, pupils will increase their familiarity with a wide range of books, take part in discussions about what they have read and hone their inferencing skills.

Activities for pupils aged 7-11 years (KS2): 'Did you know?’ Research Project

• In this classroom activity pupils embark on a group research project, to explore inspirational Black authors or illustrators and their contributions towards the world of children’s literature. Pupils are then invited to present their research, in a creative way, to the rest of the class. Pupils will hone their skills of reading and retrieving information from non-fiction, whilst focusing on key speaking and listening skills.

Activities for pupils aged 11-14 years (KS3): 'Did you know?’ Research Project

• In this classroom activity pupils embark on a group research project, following a research brief to discover inspirational Black authors or illustrators and their contributions towards the world of children’s literature. Through the opportunity to share their findings with their peers, pupils will hone their writing skills , focusing particularly on summarising and organising their ideas in a way that inspires their audience.

Additional links

Explore our Black History Month activities for families on Words for Life .

Explore our Literacy Teaching Calendar for literacy teaching resources to help enrich your lessons as you mark significant dates throughout the academic year.

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Re-imagining the future of education through Black British History

To empower all students (3-25) with a sense of national and cultural identity and belonging through the teaching of Black British history

To teach accessible and engaging Black histories all year round, 365 days a year, to support social cohesion and knowledge development in young people

We empower young people and educators across the UK to engage with Black British history 365 days a year.

One of our main goals since 2019 has been to embed Black histories into the UK national curriculum.

“The programme left us educated and empowered to speak out on issues surrounding Black British histories and gaps in the curriculum.”

Testimonial from participants of our National Ambassador Scheme :

Sounds of Black Britain Podcast

Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/10/03/black-history-month-how-black-history-is-taught-in-our-schools-2/

Black History Month: How black history is taught in our schools

October is Black History Month in the UK and a time to celebrate the contribution black people have made over the centuries in shaping the dynamic and diverse country we have today.

Black History Month is about celebrating and sharing knowledge; celebrating the contribution black people have made to freedoms, our culture and our society – from books, music to art, with authors such as Malorie Blackman, musicians such as Arlo Parks, and scientists such as Maggie Aderin-Pocock, there are many great individuals to celebrate.

This year’s theme is ‘Sharing Journeys’, exploring the lives and stories of the people who came to Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries and helped lay the foundations of today’s diverse society, such as Roy Hackett, a key figure in the Bristol Bus Boycott.

From Roman times onwards, black people have been an integral part of Britain, and the  National Curriculum  supports teaching about their contribution.

One of the key aims of the history curriculum is to know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day. This includes how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world, which helps build an understanding of a shared British and world history.

We want all pupils to benefit from a high quality and diverse history curriculum, which is why we are developing a Model History Curriculum for publication to be published 2024. The Department established an expert panel earlier this year to take this work forward.

Although Black History Month only happens once a year, the teaching of black history doesn’t begin and end there. The curriculum supports children learning about it all year round.

Here we look at a number of ways that black history can be taught in schools using the national curriculum for history from Key Stages 1 to 3, and the subject content requirements for history GCSE at Key Stage 4.

• At  Key Stage 1  the curriculum requires key historical events within or beyond living memory to be taught. This could include teaching about the lives of key black historical figures such as Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks, both of whom are used as examples in the Programmes of Study.

The inter-connection that these Islands had with the wider world is an important aspect of teaching in Key Stage 2 and 3, additionally:

• At  Key Stage 2 the curriculum requires the study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history, for example Benin (West Africa) from 900-1300 AD.
• At Key Stage 3 there is a statutory requirement to explore ideas, political power, industry and empire in Britain between 1745-1901. This is so that every child has an understanding of the history of Empire and its consequences. Teachers could, for example, look at Britain’s transatlantic slave trade – its effects and its eventual abolition – including the successful slave-led rebellions, such as the Haitian Revolution, that eventually led to the abolition of slavery. In the UK, this could include the role played by slaves and former slaves such Olaudah Equiano as well as the Somerset Ruling. This Key Stage also requires the study of an aspect of British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066. One of the suggested topics is to look at the impact of the migration of people to, from and within the British Isles.
• At  Key Stage 4  pupils should develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world history which takes in the wide diversity of human experience. Such events can include the world wars and the impact of migration on Britain. There is scope to teach black history within these events and within the broader requirements of the GCSE subject specification.

As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies, and how different groups have contributed to the development of Britain, including the voices and experience of black people.

There are many resources schools and parents can use to support teaching black history all-year round, including during Black History Month.

We have suggested some useful sites below:

• The subject association for history, the  Historical Association , has many black history resources available including those linked to in their annual Black History Month news story.
• BBC Bitesize – Resources relevant to Black History Month.
• National Archives – ‘World Through a Lens’, photos from over 100 years history, including Africa and the Americas. Many of these could be used as the stimulus for lessons in black history.
• Oak National Academy – Has a selection of black history resources available for both English and history lessons including on the resistance to slavery in Jamaica in the 19 th century and on the Windrush.
• Bristol Museums and BBC Teach provide resources on the Bristol Bus Boycott.
• The Royal Mint worked with the West India Committee to create a black British history pack titled ‘Diversity Built Britain’, with resources for schools that are aimed at illuminating stories and accounts of important and inspirational Black people that have lived, worked and studied in the UK.

Further resources are listed in our Black History Month post from 2021 .

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Black History Month activities – Best 2023 resources for KS2 and KS3

Celebrate Black History Month in October with these lessons, assemblies, recommended movies and more…

Browse this list of recommended Black History Month activities to find the perfect way to cover this important event in your classroom this year…

• When is Black History Month?

Black History Month takes place in October in the UK.

• What is Black History Month?

In the UK, Black History Month is a national celebration that aims to promote and celebrate the contributions black people have made to society. It’s also an opportunity to promote an understanding of black history more widely.

• Black History Month theme 2023

This year the focus of Black History Month activities is on celebrating the exceptional achievements of black women. This is encapsulated by the theme ‘Saluting our sisters’.

Black History Month activities and resources

How to avoid the ‘siloing’ effect of black history month, whose history should we teach, black history month activities – poetry competition.

This poetry competition is open to all students from primary age onwards, with separate categories for different age groups.

Pupils need to submit a poem about a pioneering black woman who has made an impact in their chosen field – whether famous or not. The deadline is 15th November 2023.

Winners will be announced on World Poetry Day and the top 32 poems will be printed in a special publication.

Black History Month art lesson plan

Use this KS2 art lesson to look at the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, arguably the most influential Black artist of all time. Basquiat gained recognition as part of the New York graffito duo SAMO and went on to receive critical acclaim.

Children will enjoy accessing his art because it feels familiar – his drawing style is very childlike, and his work has a sense of freedom.

Black British History lesson plan

It’s not always easy to find Black History Month activities that help children learn about black  British  history.

Patrice Lawrence’s novel  Diver’s Daughter  offers a valuable opportunity to help pupils discover more about the diversity of the people who lived in England during the Tudor times.

By exploring the experiences of characters whose stories are not always told, and contrasting them with their own rights and freedoms, this Black History Month KS2 lesson plan for schools enables children to develop empathy alongside their historical knowledge and understanding.

Inspirational people comprehension and writing activities packs

Teach LKS2 students about influential footballer, Marcus Rashford. This Black History Month activities pack from Plazoom covers introduces Marcus and explains how he’s using his influence to campaign for political change.

It contains text and comprehension questions, a PowerPoint, discussion cards and a writing task sheet. There are similar packs for KS1 ( Rosa Parks ) and UKS2 ( Barack Obama ).

Inspirational posters art activity

This KS2 art idea involves children working together to produce inspirational portraits of significant people. The posters make an inspiring display when placed together.

Empire Windrush lesson plan

During this KS2 Black history lesson , children will become aware of the discrimination that black people faced as they arrived in Britain on the Empire Windrush in 1948.

It also provides opportunities for pupils to explore important historical events, demonstrate empathy and discuss issues relating to current affairs involving discrimination.

Once you’ve explored what the Empire Windrush was and the reaction passengers received when they arrived, complete the lesson by writing a diary entry.

The lesson plan and all accompanying resources are included in this download.

Books for topics – Look Up!

Join science-mad chatterbox Rocket and learn about Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, with this KS1/2 Black history book topic .

Every child has a dream – they want to be ballet dancers, football players, vets, pop stars. Rocket, star of  Look Up!  by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola, wants to be an astronaut more than anything in the world (and the solar system).

This story follows the aspirations of a very passionate and tenacious little girl who is desperate to follow in the footsteps of Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.

This title won Waterstones Children’s Book Of The Year and will entertain and enthuse young readers with its thoughtful, bold, bright illustrations and charming protagonist.

Floella Benjamin drama lesson

When planning your Black History Month activities, there are many people whose struggles, achievements and inspirational stories could be shared with our children.

Floella Benjamin is certainly inspirational, but has the added advantage of having recorded her experiences in a beautifully written and accessible book,  Coming to England .

This KS2 Black history drama lesson plan uses drama to explore some of Floella’s experiences, while giving the children the opportunity to discuss and express their views on discrimination, inequality and injustice.

Schools resource pack

This Black History Month schools resource pack 2023 costs £54.50 and contains:

• Black History Month posters
• Assembly notes
• Lesson plans
• Supporter logos, artwork and more

The importance of Black History Month assembly

This Black History assembly from TrueTube is designed to celebrate (and discuss) the event. You can download the assembly plan which includes links to include related videos.

Black History Month magazine

The 2023 edition of Black History Month Magazine will features a wide range of writers, from sportspeople and entertainers to educators and businesspeople, all talking about how to elevate black people and be an ally. 

Find out how you can get this year’s edition and read older editions .

Empire Windrush education resources

These two massive Empire Windrush education resources , published by Windrush Foundation, include more than 200 pages of information, activities, photographs and data for students, teachers, parents, guardians and anyone keen to know some of the interesting post-war stories of Caribbean people in the UK.

Into Film recommended movies

As per usual, Into Film has you covered with topic-related films and accompanying teaching resources.

This list ranges from films like  The Princess and the Frog  for young students to the seminal  To Kill a Mockingbird  and the harrowing  12 Years a Slave .

Many come with film guides for teachers or related resources to help teach children in your classroom.

Influential Black Britons illustrated book

This resource from UK Parliament contains stories of influential black Britons who have impacted UK laws and equal rights . Use it to embed stories of important black Britons across your KS1 and KS2 curriculum.

Black history timeline of resources

At  Black History 4 Schools  you’ll find a whole list of links to useful resources all separated into historic sections:

• Black presence in Tudor times
• Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition of slavery
• Black presence in the 18th, 19th and 20th century

Black British history lessons with Professor David Olusoga

With only 8% of people reporting ever learning about the colonisation of Africa in schools, resource website iChild has partnered with Professor David Olusoga and his sister Dr Yinka Olusoga to create resources focuses on black history as an integral part of British history, not an add-on.

It’s part of the Captivating Classrooms collection, which features more than 250 digital resource units. The resources include editable PowerPoints, teacher notes, worksheets, keyword flashcards, posters and certificates. Find out more about subscribing.

Read more about David Olusoga’s schooldays and the racism he endured.

Black history in the army

The National Army Museum has created source packs and teacher notes with suggested activities) to highlight black history and support an inclusive curriculum. Students will learn about:

• The origins of African and Caribbean soldiers in the Army
• Conflict and resistance within the British Empire in Africa 
• The contributions of black men and women to Britain’s efforts in the First and Second World Wars

I want to be honest and open with all who read this. I spent years getting diversity and inclusion wrong.

As a teacher and curriculum leader, I was certain that because I featured the lives of Black people, women and other under-represented groups in my curriculum via dedicated lessons, assemblies, tutor time posts or even homework, I was getting it right.

However, I now know that I was being naïve. I’d fallen into the same narrative traps that have ensnared many others. I write these words having since educated myself, researched widely and spoken to a number of Black educators, including Emily Foloronshu ( @MissFolorunsho ) and Thandi Banda ( @STEMyBanda ), who were gracious enough to assist with the writing of this article.

Deeper thinking

Black History Month (BHM) is a well-intentioned celebration of the invaluable contribution made by Black peoples from the African Diaspora to British society. To be clear, I’m not going to argue here that we should scrap BHM. Indeed, it must be made an integral part of the school year.

I am, however, keen to explore the need for us to think more deeply about the time we allocate in the history curriculum to studying the contributions and developments made by Black people.

With big, one-off events such as BHM in place, do we risk treating the contribution of Black people as merely an add-on, for one month only?

Are BHM and other similar events just tokenistic attempts at inclusivity? Should we instead be looking to seamlessly connect the perspectives of broader, more inclusive groups, in order to arrive at a more thorough understanding of life in the past?

“Do we risk treating the contribution of Black people as merely an add-on, for one month only?”

Where we are

In recent years, some schools have adopted a more diverse and inclusive curriculum in which they connect the contributions and developments of Black people to the perspectives and contributions of non-Black people. But, at least in my experience, this is far from the norm.

In primary schools, Black History Month will typically involve a themed assembly and a month of topic-related activities. These may celebrate the contributions of individuals like Martin Luther King or Jesse Owens.

This is a start, but does it really show that we value the contributions made by Black people to the country and world we live in today? To what extent does such activity meaningfully help students understand cultural diversity?

In secondary schools, BHM tends be delivered through assemblies, workshops and PSHE lessons. But again, it’s activity that’s limited to one month. It’s often not linked to any other current learning, resulting in its purpose being lost amongst students.

Surely we can do better than this?

The power of history teachers

We history teachers have a superpower – a knowledge of the past that enables us to shape the minds and perspectives of all the children who pass through our classrooms.

I often think about the hundreds of students who have left school knowing that ‘Hitler invaded Poland in 1939’ or that ‘William the conqueror used castles as a form of social control’ because I told them so.

We create a legacy of knowledge in our classrooms. The perspectives and viewpoints we consider in our lessons will live on in the minds of the next generation, and possibly the generation after that.

So it follows that we have an enormous responsibility to ensure that what we teach is as well thought out, representative and accurate as it can be.

So, with that in mind, how many of our students could name a Black inventor? How many could name a Black man or women who has led social change in the UK? Very few, would be my guess.

And yet, history is full of Black people who contributed to the development of the world we currently live in. Yes, Martin Luther King was a globally important figure within the Civil Rights Movement. But don’t children in the UK deserve to also learn about more relatable individuals who have contributed in some way to the development of the country they know today?

This issue extends beyond the history curriculum. Every subject area, across all Key Stages, can do more to value and celebrate the contributions of Black people. If we don’t, we perpetuate the narrative that non-Black individuals almost exclusively shape and tell history.

Rethinking curriculum design

While there has been some progress in ensuring history curriculums reflect wider perspectives, we must do more. Consider how most schools will examine women’s fight for universal suffrage in one unit, and then the experiences and struggles of Black people during the height of the slave trade in another. I would argue that by isolating such topics, we present the groups concerned in a very particular way.

Instead, let’s look at how we can design our curriculums so they reflect the perspectives of said groups within all topics. In place of standalone lessons, let’s encourage a more organic reflection of different groups at each curriculum stage. At the same time, we shouldn’t give our students the impression that Black people ‘began’ as slaves. Instead, we should look more widely at African kingdoms, and the roots of humanity in Africa.

The amazing work of Katie Amery and Teni Gogo in this area is worthy of high praise. Earlier this year they authored a textbook for Oxford University Press, titled  KS3 History Depth Study :  African Kingdoms – West Africa Student Book , which reshapes the curriculum work schools have previously done on African heritage.

It prioritises the responsibility we have as teachers to maintain a legacy of knowledge that challenges racism and preconceived stereotypes around Black people.

The standalone problem

Looking back, I now shudder to think of those lessons, homework assignments and other tasks I planned and delivered to ensure I’d essentially ‘ticked the inclusion’ box. Because whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t an inclusive curriculum.

The fact that we were having to even consider how to ‘add’ the perspectives of different groups into our topics illustrates just how naïve we’ve been in this area.

We should carefully weave and sequence such perspectives throughout curriculum content. As history teachers, we should considering more widely those sources and interpretations that might help to broaden the knowledge base.

“Looking back, I now shudder to think of those lessons, homework assignments and other tasks I planned and delivered”

For example, you can easily use diary entities and letters from Black soldiers serving in WWI regarding their experiences of the trenches alongside sources from white soldiers.

Alternatively, when covering the recruitment of soldiers in WWI, we could cast our topic net more widely by directly comparing recruitment drives on the home front with those pursued across the wider Commonwealth.

Pertinent and explicit

When I started researching this topic, I was shocked to find that some schools don’t celebrate BHM at all, but celebrate it we must.

In Emily Foloronshu’s view, BHM can be made both pertinent and explicit by going beyond just the US Civil Rights Movement. It’s about thinking more deeply about how the event links to Black people’s lives in the UK.

Above all, collaborate and connect with other educators and academics. Because there’s so much good work being done nationwide to ensure we all reflect on our responsibilities, as history teachers, to devise an inclusive curriculum that accurately and consistently reflects the perspectives of different communities.

Lindsay Galbraith is assistant vice principal – teaching, learning and curriculum at a school in Telford; follow her at  @MsGHist

What to do next

• Spark debate among your teams. Is your curriculum inclusive, in terms of there being seamless connections between the experiences of wider communities and your current perspectives?
• Reflect on whether your curriculum feeds into stereotypical ideas about Black people. Are you only teaching the history of Black people from the slave trade and beyond?
• Read widely. A great place to start would be Emily Folorunsho’s chapter in the recently published  What is History Teaching, Now?  handbook edited by Alex Fairlamb and Rachel Ball (£18, John Catt)
• Recruit a team of teachers and students to help you with your planning for Black History Month
• Consider cross-curricular links beyond the history curriculum and spark debate across your school

Events over the last few years have highlighted the need for school history lessons to adopt a much wider, more global perspective, says history teacher Gemma Hargraves…

As monuments fell across the world in 2020, some of us felt compelled to ask – are our young people seeing themselves and their cultures reflected in the history curriculum? And does it matter?

The answer to the first question remains unclear. Many schools have made great strides in recent years to make their history curricula more diverse and representative. As for the second question, the answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. It matters.

Not just symbolically, but because the inclusion of world history, and the histories of groups previously overlooked in the curriculum, will make our subject richer. It will enable us to tell a fuller story, in bright technicolour.

This discussion isn’t about tokenism. Rather, it’s about how to make a rigorous and just curriculum fit for purpose in our globalised world.

I don’t intend to suggest any distinct routes to curriculum reform here. But I do believe that it’s worth exploring further the issues around whose history is being taught and how.

Regimes and racism

From the killing of George Floyd to the storming of the Capitol building, international events over the last few years have prompted us to think again about the content of the lessons we teach.

One can’t ignore the work of the National Trust’s fantastic Colonial Countryside project , the beginnings of Joe Biden’s presidency and the wonderful poem from Amanda Gorman that she read at the inauguration: “Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.”

As Sarah Maza argues in  Thinking About History , history changes all the time because it’s driven by the concerns of the present. She observes that history can be described as “What the present needs to know about the past”. And in this particular present, we’ve seen efforts at toppling monuments worldwide.

Statues topped

Protestors damaged statues of Christopher Columbus in Boston, Minnesota and Virginia. A statue of Andrew Jackson located near the White House survived an attempt by protestors to pull it down in June 2020.

Jackson served as the seventh US president from 1829 to 1837, owned slaves and enacted policies that forced Native Americans from their land, resulting in 15,000 deaths.

Closer to home, authorities removed statues of Leopold II of Belgium from locations near Brussels and a public square in Antwerp.

Almost 85,000 people signed a petition calling for the removal of all statues of Leopold from Belgium, as the country continues to grapple with its colonial past.

Leopold’s forces seized Congo in the late 19th century and ran an exploitative regime that led to the deaths of as many as 10 million Africans.

For decades, teachers have barely taught colonial history in Belgium. You can still find the famous (and racist) cartoon book  Tintin in the Congo  in many Belgian classrooms.

In June 2020, however, Belgium’s education minister announced that the country’s secondary schools would teach colonial history from 2021.

Colonial past

Britain was forced to confront its own colonial past when protesters forcibly removed a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston and threw it into Bristol Harbour. Colston transported at least 80,000 people from West Africa to the Caribbean, almost 20,000 of whom died on the voyages.

The statue was eventually retrieved, though not restored to its former location. Since then, debate has continued to rage around those schools and streets that bear his name.

Two days after Colston’s literal downfall, local authorities removed a statue of Robert Milligan outside of the Museum of London Docklands. He too was a slave trader. By the time of his death in 1809, he owned two sugar plantations and 526 slaves in Jamaica.

In January 2021 we saw the government’s response to these protests. Communities minister Robert Jenrick announced plans to change the law in to protect historic monuments and ensure “We don’t repeat the errors of previous generations.”

Representative history

Are we, as Chris Husbands argues in What is History Teaching? , as concerned with concepts of humanity and inhumanity as we are with evidence and change? For that may fundamentally alter the nature and purpose of history in schools, regardless of whose it is.

An understanding of the current discussion around statues may appeal to those drawn more to the humanity and inhumanity part of that equation. Or it might appeal to those drawn more to evidence and change. However, the concept of the former doesn’t fit as neatly into exam board specifications as the latter.

More recently, monuments erected to Churchill and Nelson have come in for especially heavy criticism. But there’s one thing I’d take from both men before their statues are potentially destroyed, moved, contextualised or forgotten.

220 years ago, Nelson stated that “The boldest measures are the safest,” with Churchill later using the same phrase himself. Perhaps sound and timely advice with respect to our history curriculum planning. If the question we’re asking is ‘ Whose history? ’, well – we must be bold.

We must acknowledge, for instance, that Black British history is all our history. Our present day UK is one shaped by immigration, even prior to the  Empire Windrush . More than one in five British people have a disability. We have evidence of homosexuality as far back as Roman times.

“If the question we’re asking is ‘ Whose history? ’, well – we must be bold”

We need to realise that diverse history is representative history. We must be global, not parochial; ambitious, not conservative. Curious, not close-minded.

Warts and all

Our globalised experiences show just how interconnected the people of the world now are. Though our historical knowledge should remind us that this isn’t new.

Global histories may now have the potential to edge out national narratives. With limited teaching time available in schools, we must make choices.

One can’t claim to teach the history of every possible group in school; to attempt to do so would be superficial, misleading and lead to an incoherent history curriculum.

“One can’t claim to teach the history of every possible group in school”

Still, as Husbands argues, pupils’ ideas of the past are linked to ideas they already have regarding human motivation. This works alongside various ideas and experiences that they’re exposed to beyond the school gates. Local history has its place too.

We can perhaps take inspiration from books like  The House by the Lake  (Thomas Harding) or  House of Glass  (Hadley Freeman), and broaden our timeframes to more of a breadth study, albeit while shining a spotlight on certain individuals, stories and evidence.

Or we could add some of Miranda Kaufmann’s  Black Tudors  to the established Tudors unit – a ‘slot-in’, as some schools are currently doing to rapidly diversify their existing units. But we must then build to do more, and do better.

Complex past

One may well agree with Jenrick when he said “It is our privilege in this country to have inherited a deep, rich, fascinating and, yes, often complex past. We are mature enough as a society to understand that, and to seek to pass it on – warts and all. To do otherwise would leave our history and future diminished.”

Indeed, it’s the duty of history teachers to teach that history, warts and all. To borrow a further line from Amanda Gorman – which could relate to the UK as much as the USA – “It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.”

“It’s the duty of history teachers to teach that history, warts and all”

All that’s left is to continue carefully pondering whose history it is that we’re teaching, and after Brexit and COVID-19, whether that history can help us heal.

Further reading

• Natives  – Akala
• Queer City  – Peter Ackroyd
• The Hill We Climb  – Amanda Gorman
• Brit(ish)  – Afua Hirsch
• What is History Teaching?  – Chris Husbands
• Thinking About History  – Sarah Maza
• Silencing the Past  – Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Download this audit tool to identify gaps and areas for development in your own history curriculum.

Gemma Hargraves is a history teacher, A Level examiner and secondary committee member of The Historical Association.

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• Study break
• Magazine zone

Black History Month

October is Black History Month in the UK. It recognises black people's achievements and teaches people about black history.

Instructions

Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

The history of our world is a story of migration, diversity, empire and belonging. But these topics are not often taught in schools. Black History Month is about teaching ourselves fully and fairly about our history, and not just looking at it from one point of view. Black History Month challenges racism and promotes understanding by making sure that black people's achievements and stories are not forgotten.

How did Black History Month begin?

It started in the USA with the work of Carter G Woodson. He was a brilliant historian and in 1912 he became the second African American to get a doctorate from Harvard University.

His parents had been enslaved and taken from Africa to America. But he saw that American history lessons did not include the history of people like his parents. He started 'Negro History Week' to teach people about black history. He wanted to give African Americans a sense of pride and identity and to protect them within wider society.

When did it come to the UK?

This was in 1987. It was organised by community activist and London council worker Akyaaba Addai Sebo after a colleague told him that her son had asked her, 'Mum, why can't I be white?' Addai Sebo was sad to learn of the young boy's lack of self-esteem and identity. So he helped organise an event to promote self-pride in African and Afro-Caribbean people through positive teaching of their histories and culture.

What's happened recently?

After the killing of George Floyd in the USA in 2020, there has been huge international support for the Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice. People want to talk about racism in schools, workplaces, sports and other parts of society – and how we can stop it.

This includes thinking about how we learn about history. In 2020, anti-racism protesters in the UK took down the statue of Edward Colston – a man who bought and sold enslaved people – and pushed it into the water in Bristol Harbour. Some people say acts such as these destroy our history. Others argue that the protesters have actually helped to teach history – the ugly story of a man who transported 84,000 enslaved individuals from Africa to the Americas, 19,000 of them dying on his ships. The debate about what to do with statues like this continues.

Is one month enough?

The Black Curriculum is a group of young people who want black British history to be taught in UK schools. They say that learning about empire, movement and migration helps young people build a sense of identity and improves social cohesion. Black history is an important part of British history, and learning about it is necessary for understanding diversity and fighting racism. The Black Curriculum and groups like it are asking the UK government to include black history in lessons all year round, not just in October. This will make sure students get lessons that are relevant to them and that give them a positive sense of belonging.

Check your understanding: true or false

Check your vocabulary: gap fill, worksheets and downloads.

What do you learn about in your history lessons in school?

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This year the 100 Great Black Britons campaign includes useful learning resources to help teachers and parents doing home school during lockdown. Theses lessons and activities can be used to teach students about subject areas covered in KS1; KS2; KS3 and KS4.

“Black history is Britain goes as far back as it’s possible to go. Children growing up in modern Britain should know their true history, and whether they are Black, brown or white, Black history is part our of national story. These resources on the 100 Great Black Britons site can be used by families, parents, guardians and carers to help children understand themselves and their wider history. This is central to Black Cultural Archives’ purpose, so we’re very pleased to contribute to this great resource.” Arike Oke Managing Director, Black Cultural Archives

“100 Black Britons is a timely project, we are in need of more projects that focus on the often untold narratives of Black British pioneers. It is important that their legacy and the spirit of hope they embodied is carried on for future generations. By teaching this in schools we are ensuring their place in history is never forgotten.” Ife Thompson, Director of BLAM

“Black history is vital for every young persons' development and understanding of their identity and the world around them. To become fully rounded people, it is important that all young people are given meaningful access to a full version of history.” Lavinya Stennett founder of Black Curriculum

Lesson Plans

Black people in Britain before the slave trade

Introduction to black leaders in britain

Resources courtesy of The Guardian

Author and creative director: Gaverne Bennett and Designers: Jon Wedderburn and Sarah Edwards

Guardian black history posters

Guardian black history wall charts. Five separate posters detailing history of black people in the UK. Timeline Part 1 Timeline Part 2 Timeline Part 3 Timeline Part 4 Timeline Part 5

How the Caribbean freed itself

Extended guardian black history resource.

Extension of black history wall chart for The Guardian about Black History. View PDF

Resources courtesy of Twinkl

Lesson material around 100 Great Black Britons

Benjamin Zephaniah

Diane Abbott

Black British History Timeline

Learning Resources

Kandace chimbiri, story of the windrush.

(Golden Destiny 2018) – a book celebrating the legacy of the Windrush pioneers which combines historical fact with the narratives of men and women of the Windrush Generation. Fulfils the requirements of English and History (KS1 and 2) Available for purchase here

Windrush Foundation, Empire Windrush Education Resource (KS2 and 3) More than 150 pages of information, activities, photos and data for students, teachers and parents. Request a PDF here

Black History 4 Schools

Created by teacher Dan Lyndon in 2006, this resource contains classroom lessons on Black and Asian history from the Tudor period to the 20th century.

Making Freedom:

Making Freedom is the title of an exhibition and education project that was developed by the Windrush Foundation to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Emancipation in the Anglophone Caribbean in 1838. The project's website includes a 90-page education pack (with quizzes, information sheets and activities about Caribbean history, heritage and culture) that can be freely downloaded for use by schools, families and community groups. The resources can be downloaded from here

Bernie Grant Trust Learning Resources:

Freedom to believe project:.

education pack based on University of Edinburgh and Talawa Theatre Company project exploring Caribbean social and religious histories. The Freedom to Believe project was developed by the University of Edinburgh to provide teaching and learning resources about Caribbean religious and social history for young people aged 11-16. Available to be downloaded here

Mary Seacole:

TheSchoolRun.com has lots of activities on the life of the Jamaican nurse and war hero at Key Stages 1 and 2 here Also check out BBC History, The life of Mary Seacole ; Key Stage History, which contrasts with Florence Nightingale ; Twinkl also have resources on Seacole that you need to create an account for free downloads of material.

Olaudah Equiano:

the Times Education Supplement (TES) offers PowerPoint presentations on the life of the abolitionist and author – free downloads here here and here

Black Presence: Asian and Black History in Britain, 1500-1850

Developed by the National Archives and the Black and Asian Studies Association (BASA), this online exhibition charts the Black and Asian presence in Britain from the early modern period and presents many of the original documents held in TNA’s collections

A to Z of Black Radicalism:

Kehinde Andrews, professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University is exploring Black radicalism alphabetically with a short explanation and resources here

Moving Here:

A great archived resource on migration with hundreds of free downloadable documents relating to migration to England over the past 200 years. Schools resources here , and resources looking at education as key issue in debate around migration

Our Migration Story:

an award winning online resource developed by the Runnymede Trust presenting the stories of the generation of migrants who shaped Britain with lots of lesson plans and activities.

British Library Windrush Stories:

is an online resource that explores Windrush from cultural, historical, social, political and literary perspectives and features objects from the Library’s collection and teaching resources for Key Stages 2 and 3.

Bound for Britain:

A National Archives online resource for Key Stages 3 and 4 with downloadable materials including original documents

V&A Black Theatre and Performance:

Resources on the V&A’s collections on the history of black performance. Lots of interesting articles that can be adapted for reading comprehension, or just to learn about this rich history

Bussa’s Rebellion:

A resource by the National Archives that explores the rebellion in Barbados in 1816 as part of a broader study on resistance to enslavement in the British Caribbean for Key Stages 3 and 4

Caribbean Histories Revealed:

an online exhibition that explores the history of the Caribbean through government documents, photographs and maps from the 17th century

Caribbean History in Photographs:

Lessons for Key Stages 2,3,4,5 learning what contemporary images of the Caribbean can teach us

The Empire Called to Arms:

Learning resources by the Imperial War Museum exploring the different countries that contributed to British the war effort

The Life and Times of JA Rogers:

an article by Patrick Vernon on the life and work of the independent historian Joel Augustus Rogers, who made black history an important subject of study from the 1920s until his deat. The story of the British West Indies Regiment in the First World War: Imperial War Museum narrative on the BWIR with original images from their archives

Equiano Society:

Resources relating to the 18th century abolitionist and writer including articles, online exhibitions and teaching resources. Where are all the Black Historians? Patrick Vernon considers the plights of black historians in the UK. Where are all the Black Historians? Patrick Vernon considers the plights of black historians in the UK

Speaking Out and Standing Firm:

Programme developed by Haringey Libraries and Every Generation to capture the histories of African and Caribbean servicemen and women. Lots of great resources based on their experiences

Whose Remembrance:

Resources accompanying an IWM project that researched the experiences of the peoples of the former British Empire in the two world wars

Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health (BLAM)

offer free black history resources for ages 6 to 16. Email for access to the weekly programme and worksheets

The Black Curriculum:

a social enterprise that delivers Black British History in schools. Also provides free weekly resources for Key Stages 2 and 3

Podcasts on Black British History

Radio 4: asquith’s fight for equality:.

The story of Asquith Xavier who fought the colour bar at Euston Station. Presented by Oona King

Archive on 4: The British Black Panthers:

The story of the Black Power movement in Britain in the 1970s

Radio 3: Black British History:

Discussion on what it means to be black and British with Kehinde Andrews, Bernadine Evaristo, Keith Piper and Miranda Kaufmann

History Extra Podcast:

David Olusoga explores Britain’s links with the people of Africa

History Workshop Podcast: Displaying Black History: The Krios of Sierra Leone:

Discussing a new display at the Museum of London Docklands telling the story of Sierra Leone’s Krio people

BBC World Service, The History Hour, Black British History:

looking back on some landmark moments in history

Black British history at the National Archives: several really good podcasts on the lives of a number of black historical figures

Voices of Windrush Podcast, Colourful Radio with Sinai Fleary and Patrick Vernon

Archive on 4: Our Anniversary Obsession:

In this programme Patrick Vernon is interviewed about the campaign for a national Windrush Day

Museum of Grooves Podcast:

Emancipation Day and UN Decade of African Descent. Michael Küppers-Adebisi founder of CyberNomads and AFROTAK TV highlights the experiences of Afro Germans and the German government proposed apology for the genocide of the Herero people in Namibia 1904-1908. Esther Stanford-Xosei is an internationally acclaimed Reparationist, Jurisconsult, dynamic community advocate and radio broadcaster

100 Great Black Britons:

Ade Solanke and Dr Angelina Osborne

30 Years of Black History Month:

Diane Abbott MP, Marai Larasi, feminist activist and Toyin Agbetu founder of Ligali.

Indentured Labour in the Caribbean:

Joshua Jelly-Schapiro is a geographer and writer is the author of Island People. Ansel Wong community activist and Lainey Malkani author of Sugar Sugar.

Jon Daniel - Afro Supa Heroes

Get involved and share your ideas

We want the 100 Great Black Britons campaign to be used as a way to encourage pupils and teachers to get involved by developing and sharing exciting ideas, activities and lesson plans which not only support their work for Black History Month in 2020, but also make it easier for other teachers and pupils to integrate the teaching of Black history into school curricula for years to come.

If you want to get involved and share your own resources with others you can upload them using the following link:

• Share Resources

Artwork by:

Dr Pen Mendonca

Photography by:

© Ben Catchpole in location of images, Somerset House

Location of images: Somerset House

Logo design by:

Ahmed Akasha

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