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Black History Month

Every October we have the chance to celebrate the contribution of Black history to human history. For many years, the voices of Black people in history have been left out. Black History Month allows us to hear them. 

The importance of Black History month cannot be overstated enough. The initiative started in the 1920s when the writer (and former teacher) Carter G Woodson created a special group to celebrate Black history in Chicago. This celebration grew, and by 1970, Kent State University proposed that we should dedicate a whole month to the study of Black history. Over the next few decades, the idea has spread and is now one of the most recognisable events in education and public history.

At Springwest, we make it a priority to include all voices in the conversation. We have taken to celebrating Black History Month across the school, allowing us to learn about and champion the important pioneers from all subjects.

Our projects this year include assemblies, Black History Month displays around the school, a calendar of activities for tutor time, a Black music workshop, a storytelling workshop and special sessions in our weekly AAC Club. 

This year's theme is 'Time for Change: Actions Not Words':

To get to a better tomorrow, we can’t just focus on the past. The past is in the past. We can acknowledge and learn from it, but to improve the future, we need action, not words. We need to come together around a shared common goal to achieve a better world for everyone.

This year’s Black History Month in October is more important than ever. It’s not just a month to celebrate the continued achievements and contributions of Black people to the UK and around the world. It’s also a time for continued action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure Black history is represented and celebrated all year round.