A lot of children feel that reading is something that is just for school. They don’t see how they need it in real life, and they certainly don’t see how anyone could get any sort of pleasure from it. That is a shame, since poetry, stories and all other forms of literature have been the secret tool people across the world and cultures have used to entertain themselves and escape from their ordinary lives. I am a writer, but I am also a reader and before I was introduced to the internet, I was introduced to books. Books were my escape, books were my source of joy and books were the reason I figu ..read more

The Debate The debate on teaching Black British history has gathered momentum in the past three years as a result of our advocacy work at The Black Curriculum and the #TBH365Campaign. The realisation that the National Curriculum barely covered Black British history however goes as far back as 2014 when the following petition to ‘Introduce Black History in the primary curriculum’ was made to the UK Government: “To make Black History part of the school curriculum for Primary education. It helps to enrich the development of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural needs of all ethnic groups. We ..read more

The Black Curriculum delivered a Manny on the Map Springboard workshop on the 29th of September, in partnership with the Poetry Place, a poetry collective based in Manchester who facilitated the session. The facilitators designed the workshop for young people that explored how poetry and music has been used as a form of protest, that speaks up against racial discrimination.   The young people used group exercises to explore their own experiences of racial identity, also looking at definitive moments in Manchester’s black historical community such as the Moss Side riots. Armed with their e ..read more

As events unprecedented and plans premeditated took place surrounding the queen’s death and funeral took place mid-September into the early days of this week, the nation has been confronted with its present and its past in a way it has not before. Over the past few days, Britain and the world has revisited the classroom, and been taken in by a history lesson, starting with the topic of colonialism. Though the public engagement with the topic of colonialism is not rare, discussions still happen few and far in between and are framed in very reduced terms - ‘was colonialism good or bad?’. What st ..read more

Happy World Afro Day 2022! Today is a global day of celebrating Afro hair and the culture and identity around it. Afro hair is significant in connecting Black people across the diaspora and giving us a sense of identity. The way we wear our hair is a deep political statement that doesn’t need to be spoken out loud, a loud reclaiming of our history, and our own ancestral standards of beauty. Today we want to spotlight the works of 5 amazing photographers from across the globe, whose works celebrate the diversity and coolness of afros, as well as Black culture. James Banor ..read more

On September 7 1919, Jamaican poet, writer, and educator Louise Simone Bennet-Coverly, or Miss Lou, was born. Often described as “Jamaica’s most cherished national treasure,” she has received numerous honours and awards for her work in Jamaican literature and theatre from Jamaica to London and more, including an MBE. Amongst many accomplishments, she was the first black student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London after receiving a British Council scholarship in 1945. Working across Jamaica and the UK, Miss Lou had a very active career. She was the host of two radio shows on ..read more

Today we commemorate the life and legacy of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack on the 22nd of April, 1993. 29 years on, we reflect on the environment which led to his death, and the tireless campaigning for justice which followed, and continues today. #SLD22 At The Black Curriculum, we believe that education has the power to transform society. Through a holistic education, we can nurture future generations who are empowered in their identities, and are champions of social cohesion and justice. Through a reformed educational system, we can envision a society where the loss of ..read more

As we approach the end of #WomensHistoryMonth, we’ve put together a 'Black Women Activists in British History' series, a collection of the powerful experiences of Black women who campaigned for Civil Rights in Britain, and forged safe spaces for women's advancement. Did you learn about any of these women in school? Teachers, how will you choose to embed their inspiring stories in your schemes of work? Read on for more. ALICE KINLOCH The African Association, 1897 Alice Kinloch was born in 1852 in South Africa, and spent many years fighting against oppression faced by Black people in southern ..read more

Accessible education for all is a key part of what we do at The Black Curriculum. We work with teachers to empower them with the knowledge and skills to teach Black British histories in their classrooms, in turn empowering a generation of young learners. Our Future Learn course is a great tool for Educators who want to learn how to best embed Black British History into their teaching. And it’s free! Read on to learn more about the course. 1. You get to learn a wide range of topics From pedagogy in the classroom to the history of ethnocratic and eurocentric narratives, you'll gain a critical p ..read more

Happy World Book Day! At The Black Curriculum, we are committed to ensuring that the teaching of Black British history is made accessible to all, young and old. Our #TBH365 campaign calls for the embedding of Black British history in the national curriculum. This means not only engaging with Black British History in the month of October, but all year round. As part of our campaign, we believe that students and educators alike, need to feel supported and empowered when learning or teaching Black British history. Our much-loved book lists are curated to make learning these histories accessible ..read more