Putting the Black in the Union Jack? Black British History in Education

This event was held at the Bloomsbury Theatre on 8 November 2014

Putting the Black in the Union Jack? Black British History in Education, explored how we can incorporate the stories of African men, women and children and their descendants into the study of British history.

What makes a nation? What is national history? Who belongs in the story? Why does it matter? Stuart Hall once wrote that those that do not see themselves reflected in national heritage are excluded from it. The black presence in Britain has a long and rich history and yet black British history has often been marginalised and considered to be a post-Windrush phenomenon.

Common conceptions of British national history are often condensed into the familiar stories, such as those of the Tudors, Abolitionists, and the two World Wars. These are some of the cornerstones of how we have come to understand ourselves as a nation. Focusing on areas which are part of the national curriculum, this event will explore how we can incorporate the stories of African men, women and children and their descendants.

The event showcased some of the best of black British culture including readings by Andrea Stuart and S. I. Martin, as well as performances from Hackney students alongside their mentors Akala and Anthony Anaxagorou. This was followed by an interactive debate on the role of national, global, and diasporic histories within education.

You can see a programme of the event here.

This event was organized by the Legacies of British Slave-ownership project at UCL and Hackney Museum and Archives.