By Keighley Hylton, ABSS Project Manager for Co-production and Engagement

Many people have argued that Black History should not be taught for one month of the year but all year round. Growing up as a Black British Caribbean, attending a predominantly white school and not being educated about my own history, I agree with this argument. The little education I did receive at school about my own heritage was of course about slavery, when in fact the history of Africans and Caribbean’s did not begin with enslavement.

To me, Black History Month is an opportunity to educate all races and ethnicities about the true history of Black, African and Caribbean people; and with all that is going on during 2020 I believe this education to be more important than ever.

Viewing viral videos of Black Males being murdered and harassed by the police,  the higher mortality rates of the Black community due to COVID-19, alongside Black Lives Matter protests during a national lockdown has undoubtedly had a major impact on the mental health of the Black community.  In these troubling times, Black History Month is an opportunity to remind Black people of the great things their ancestors have achieved and to showcase the pride there is in coming from an African or Caribbean heritage.

Although there are many great Black leaders who paved the way for the Black Community and in many cases, society as a whole, Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman and the Black Panthers are the most inspirational for me personally. Here is some more information about each of them:

  • Marcus Garvey was one of the first great leaders to globally promote the message of self-love for Black People. He encouraged Black people worldwide to become economically strong, and he promoted an independent Black economy within the framework of white capitalism. Marcus Garvey established the Negro Factories Corporation and the Black Star Line, as well as producing a line of Black dolls for children and the Negro World newspaper.
  • Harriet Tubman, was famously known for freeing enslaved African people using the Underground Railroad, an escape route she discovered when escaping slavery herself.
  • Many people don’t know that the Black Panthers were developed in order to patrol Black neighbourhoods protecting residents from police brutality. As part of this movement the Black Panthers delivered community-based health care, offered free breakfasts to families living in deprivation and developed an education programme.

To quote only three examples of black excellence in a short blog is an example of how teaching Black History for just one month is not adequate. But in times where global racial tensions are at an all-time high, it is vital that the Black community view themselves as more than another statistic for police brutality, knife crime and criminal activity. There is so much to celebrate.

My passion for supporting the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community feeds into my role as Project Manager for Engagement and Co-production at A Better Start Southend. Since beginning my role in February 2020,  I have developed  the A Better Start Southend (ABSS) Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) steering group in response to the Black Lives Matter protests.  The Steering Group is helping to bring local voices from around the borough together, to establish how A Better Start Southend can best support the BAME community living within our wards in Southend. We are currently looking for parents from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community within Southend to join us at this Steering Group, and advocate for your communities. If you would like to be involved in the Steering Group and any additional activities surrounding our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic engagement programme, please contact abetterstart@eyalliance.org.uk.

In addition, for this years’ Black History Month ABSS, will be posting about significant black leaders in the early years, education and healthcare sector on their social media channels. By shining a light on these leaders, we can celebrate the achievements, and reflect on the discrimination black individuals can face when striving to make positive change. Take a look here

For more information about A Better Start Southend and our work within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, contact us on abetterstart@eyalliance.org.uk

 

 

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