October Blog: Black History Month

Sunday 6 October 2024

Black History Month

In the UK, October is Black History Month - an annual celebration of Black history and heritage.

The theme for 2024 UK Black History month in the UK is 'Reclaiming narratives' and there are some excellent resources available for teachers and students to address this theme in the classroom such as this article on Africa:

Reclaiming the Narrative of a Continent (Black History Month 2024)

This external narrative has perpetuated stereotypes and misconceptions, overshadowing the true story of a continent teeming with diversity, innovation,

Facing History also has resources for an Assembly on Black History Month:

Resources for Celebrating Black History Month (Facing History & Ourselves)

The concept of a Black History month started in the US - where it is also known as African-American History Month - and it is always held in February, so we will make sure to bring this into our February blog.

This BBC site gives an overview of the interesting origins of Black History month and its importance:

Black History Month: What is it and why does it matter? (www.bbc.com)

First proposed in the US in the 1920s, the event was first celebrated in the UK in 1987.

History in the news

This month sees Jimmy Carter become one hundred years old - the first time a former President has reached this age! So a good opportunity to discuss his key foreign policy actions with students.

Many of these link to Paper 2, Cold War Topic - his emphasis on Human Rights as a keystone of foreign policy leading to the idea of 'linkage' in relations with the USSR, the breakdown of detente and the start of the Second Cold War following Brezhnev's decision to invade Afghanistan.

The Middle East was also to be very significant during his Presidency - the events following the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the failed hostage rescue attempt. But also the most significant foreign policy achievement of his administration, the Camp David Accords of 1978 (which links to Paper 3. Middle East, Topic 17).

This article provides a good overview of Carter's foreign policy:

Jimmy Carter: Foreign Affairs | Miller Center (Miller Center)

Also see this article from Foreign Affairs for an interesting analysis of his foreign policy (you need to sign up - but worth it!)

How Jimmy Carter Changed American Foreign Policy (Foreign Affairs)

An enduring—and misunderstood—legacy

Other historical anniversaries for this month include the following - any or all of which could be the focus of a display or discussion with students:

60 years - October 5, 1964 - Largest mass escape since the construction of the Berlin Wall occurred as 57 East Germans escaped to West Berlin tunnelling beneath the wall.

60 years - October 14, 1964 - Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.

60 years October 15, 1964 - Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was deposed as First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.

60 years - October 16, 1964 - China detonated its first nuclear bomb at the Lop Nor test site in Sinkiang.

History and Politics

One of our favourite political commentators - who is excellent at linking, and providing depth to current events by explaining their history - is Rory Stewart. He is a former Member of the UK Parliament and Minister under the Conservative governments of Theresa May and Boris Johnson before being expelled from the Party by Johnson in 2019. Not only does he bring a wealth of political experience through his various ministerial and diplomatic positions, he is also an academic, a writer, an explorer, director of a charity - quite a 'polymath' in fact.

Rory has just done a lecture at LSE, on 'Religion, nationalism, conflict and community' which we would recommend.

For those of you - both students and teachers - who like to keep up with politics and to get good analysis, we would also recommend the podcast that Rory Stewart with Alistair Campbell (former advisor to Tony Blair), the Rest is Politics, which covers both UK and global events - always giving their historical context.