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This PowerPoint gives definitions of 'enslaved people' and 'racism' and some examples of racism in history are given. Sensitive and/or upsetting topics such as these may emotionally impact your students due to past experiences. You should consider whether this content is appropriate and ensure adequate support is available for anyone affected.
History Months
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Throughout the year, there are months that celebrate the history (past) of different groups of people. Like PRIDE month in June, National Indigenous Peoples Day on June21st, and International Women’s Day in March.
The history of different groups of
people is part of all history so we
should learn about everyone’s
history all year round. However, these specific months help people learn more about groups of people, their history and their importance to the wider world.
Talk About It
If you could choose a month to celebrate a group of people, who would it be and why?
Black History Month
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Black History Month is celebrated each year in October. It is a chance to celebrate the achievements of Black people in the past and present.
Did You Know…?
In the USA, Black History Month is celebrated in February each year.
It is celebrated in schools, museums, universities and lots of other places. People learn about important Black people and the impact they have had on society.
Black History Month was first celebrated in the UK in the 1980s.
achievements – Special things that people have done.
society – People who live in an area together.
Why Do We Have Black History Month?
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Black people have been an important part of society for a long time. Even though many Black people have achieved important things, they weren’t often mentioned in history books, television shows about the past or even in school history lessons.
Do you know who any of these people are?
This meant that lots of people didn’t know about all the amazing things that they had done. We have Black History Month so that people can learn about the important achievements of those people and help people to remember them.
Ignatius Sancho
Mary Seacole
Nelson Mandela
Katherine Johnson
Racism
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Racism has meant that the achievements of Black people in history have often not been recognised. Racism is when a person is treated unfairly or wrongly because of parts of their cultural identity or characteristics such as the colour of someone’s skin.
Examples of racism in the past include:
How Did Black History Month Start?
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In 1875, Carter G Woodson was born in the USA. Because of the racism he experienced, Carter didn’t have many opportunities to have an education or a well-paid job. However, he eventually managed to go to one of the top universities in the USA.
He noticed that there was almost no mention of Black people in history books and wanted to change this. In 1926, he announced the first ever Black History Month. Carter became known as the ‘Father of Black History’.
universities – Places where people can go to learn after they have finished school.
Significant Black People
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Here are just some of the people you might learn about during Black History Month.
enslaved person – Someone who is ‘owned’ by someone else and forced to work.
Olaudah Equiano lived in Britain over 200 years ago. He had been an enslaved person. He wrote a book about how unfairly Black people were treated and called for the end of enslavement.
Harriet Tubman was born in the USA around 200 years ago. She was an enslaved person but eventually managed to escape. Harriet helped many other people escape too.
Significant Black People
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Malcolm X was a leader in the USA who campaigned for Black people to be treated equally.
Tessa Sanderson is a British athlete who took part in six Olympic Games. She won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.
Talk About It
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Why do you think Black History Month is important?
Are there any people you would like to learn about?
How could you celebrate Black History Month?