Black History Month Oct 2022
When is Black History Month?
Black History Month is marked throughout the month of October in the UK.
In the UK, Black History Month was first marked in October 1987, as part of African Jubilee Year.
What is this year’s theme?
2022 marks 35 years since Britain celebrated its first Black History Month in October 1987. A month that aimed to celebrate, commemorate and acknowledge the oft-forgotten or overlooked contributions and achievements of Black people in Britain and the wider world.
This year’s theme is Time of Change: Action not Words, a theme that aims to encourage people to speak up against racism and be active not passive bystanders to the injustices we see.
At Barnwell School, we are continually striving to create an environment where students feel safe and welcomed no matter their origins, supporting students and staff in identifying the many forms of prejudice and racism that exists and the strategies to help support them in challenging these. It is not an easy journey, but one that we embark upon wholeheartedly and determinedly; striving to create a school where such national events as Black History Month act as months that highlight the developing great work in our subject curriculums and wider school activities, moving away from the tokenistic elements that often beset such events.
How do we celebrate Black History Month at Barnwell?
This Black History Month, Barnwell school are doing the following in celebration of Black contributions in Britain and the wider world.
- Whole School assemblies led by our Equity and Diversity student ambassadors
- School Displays
- DNA and Form time activities
- Menu options in the school canteen to include foods from African and Caribbean origin
- Film nights that celebrate Black contributions
- Black History Month Competitions
- Celebrating Black British poets on National Poetry Day (Thursday 6th)A bake sale to raise money for Black and Minority ethnic focused charities
- Students will be provided with links to relevant literary and film recommendations. Click here for more information
- The libraries are promoting and displaying books from influential authors of African and Caribbean origin.
