Black History Month Calendar

We love this Calendar.  We have left it to the end of Black History Month to post it so you can read about all these amazing people now that all the windows are open.

Black History Month Week 5

 

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  In the final week of October we are going to celebrate the wonderful Malorie Blackman.  Her most well know books are the Noughts and Crosses series.  

The series describes the lives of Sephy, a Cross, and Callum a Nought, against a background of prejudice and distrust, highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts.  An impossible romance builds between Sephy and Callum, one which leads them both into terrible danger.

All we can say is the Noughts and Crosses series is a must read for everyone!

Black History Month Week 4

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to The Life of Stephen Lawrence by Verna Allette Wilkins held in our Lower School Library.

The first 45 pages of this book give us a clear account of Stephen Lawrence, a regular south London child, a son and brother and aspiring architect.    We learn on page 46 that Stephen's life was cut short when he was brutally murdered on the streets of Eltham, in a racially motivated attack.  What followed was a police investigation described by the Macpherson Report as "marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership".  The term 'institutional racism' is now one that is very familiar.  We look forward to the day when nobody understands what it means.

Black History Month Week 3

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to commend to you Twelve Years a Slave  A Memoir of Kidnap, Slavery And Liberation by Solomon Northup held in our Upper School Library.  This astonishing memoir, of a free man who was sold into slavery in Louisiana where he was kept for 12 years, was made into an award winning film in 2013.

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World Mental Health Awareness Day 2020

 

October the 10th 2020 is World Mental Health Day.  We are aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has effected people's mental health in many ways, both good and bad.  We have lots of books for students and staff to borrow using our 'Click and Collect' service, for both self help and bibliotherapy.

Help can also be found here Kooth, Childline, Papyrus.

Black History Month Week 2

 

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to Respect by Michaela Morgan.

Respect tells the story of Walter Tull, a remarkable person in so many ways.  Tull was Kent born, hailing from Folkestone, his mother was from Kent and his father from Barbados.  Orphaned by the age of eleven Tull went on to become a British Army Officer and a professional footballer.  We won't tell you any more in case you decide to read Respect which we hold in our Lower School Library.

Black History Month Week 1

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to Black and British : A Forgotten History by David Olusoga.  Published in 2017 by Pan Macmillan this book, charting black British history from Roman times to the end of the 20th Century, can be found in our Upper School Library.  Fittingly Olusoga has written a version for children aged 12+, Black and British: A short, essential history to be published this month.  This complementary title is definitely on our wish list.

In this fascinating 'In Conversation with ... ' Afua Hirsch author of Brit (ish) On Race, Identity and Belonging, Olusoga also makes reference to Staying Power by the late Peter Fryer, another important black history title we hold in our Upper School Library.