Black History Resources
In 2021 the teaching of Black History was made mandatory in all schools across Wales. More support and information for schools can be found on the Black History Cymru 365 website.
Every year the diocese encourage schools to develop their curriculum by celebrating Black History month. Our theme for Black History Month 2023 is leadership. You might like to learn about some talented black leaders. Think about some of the challenges they have had to face and the ways in which they have influenced change.
Each primary school in the diocese will receive a copy of the Nelson Mandella and Michelle Obama from the Little People Big Dreams collection.
2023 Resources
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918 at a time when there was a huge divide in the country.
White people led the country and has access to good schools, jobs and healthcare. Whereas, most black people lived in poor communities and had fewer rights.
Nelson Mandela knew this wasn't fair and he was determined to change things. He had trained as a lawyer and joined a group that worked for equal rights.
In 1984 the government introduced apartheid which made things even more unfair. Nelson kept working with others to protest against these unfair laws. He was arrested many time and even had to go into hiding. One day he was arrested and put in jail where he stayed for 27 years. Nelson never gave up on the idea of his dreams. Many people supported him and would pray or protests for his release. Finally when he was 72 he was released from prison and worked with others to change the laws. He was elected as the first Black president of South Africa and won a Nobel peace prize.
National Geographic kids have additional resources online that can be accessed here.
"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."Nelson Mandela
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is a lawyer and activist. She was also the first lady of the United States of America from 2009 to 2017.
Her husband Barak Obama was the first African American president of the United States and she was the first African American first lady.
Michelle contributed to many campaigns to support people across America but she was particularly interested in encouraging people to play sport and eat healthily. She also inspired people around the world to work towards improving girls' education.
Success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.Michelle Obama
Additional resources on Black Leaders
2022 Resources
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is a footballer who plays for Man United and England. During the Covid 19 he was worried that some children may not have enough to eat and he spoke out about this. He spoke to the government and the people in charge of making decisions encouraging them to think carefully about how they can support children and their families.
You might like to take part in this virtual PE lesson from the BBC led by Marcus.
'It's impossible not to have faith in God and all he does for us'
Marcus Rashford
Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph was a record breaking athlete. She represented her country at the 1960 Olympics. Wilma overcame many challenges in her life. When she was a little girl she contracted polio and doctors thought she would never walk again. She was determined to recover and went on to be one of the fastest women sprinters in the world.
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
Wilma Rudolph
2021 Resources
Find out more about the Little People Big Dreams Collection here
Classical Music
Florence Price was an African-American woman who become the first black female composer to have her work performed by a major orchestra.
Find out more about Florence and her music at BBC Teach Florence Price – Symphony No. 1 in E minor (3rd mvt) - BBC Teach
Gospel
The definition of gospel music can vary but most people agree that it is a Christian genre of music. Gospel music is often sung in churches but is also sung at celebrations, ceremonies or parties. Gospel music is often sung by choirs. Sometimes gospel music is sung a cappella, which means there is no accompanying music.
One of the most famous gospel singers was Aretha Franklin, who you can learn more about below.
Rap
Rapping is a genre of music linked to hip hop. It is a mix between singing and talking and is often likened to poetry. Words are spoken with rythym and in the text there are rhymes. There is usually a simple beat in the background.
Although the roots of the music can be traced back to Africa, most people agree that rap, as a type of music, started in the Bronx, New York, America.
The fastest rapper according to Guinness World Records is Twista. In 1992, he rapped 11 syllables in one second. (kidzsearch.com)
British rap music is a popular form of this music. There are many rappers such as Stormzy and Guvna B who are successful across the world.
Guvna B
Guvna B
Isaac Borquaye, otherwise known as Guvna B, is a rapper, author and broadcaster from London. He has released 10 albums and won may awards including a MOBO for Best Gospel Act. Guvna B was born in London to Ghanaian parents from Accra. He is a Christian and often a talks about his faith and his childhood in East London saying "My upbringing helped me find my faith. The negative things I saw in my society inspired me to do better and inspire people to be the best they can be instead of becoming stereotypical products of a negative environment" In 2020 Guvna B worked with the Church in Wales to write a song Called Darkness into Light for Advent. Click here to find out more.
Additional Resources
With thanks to the Quarto group and NATRE for permission to share resources.
2020 Resources
As part of Black History Month 2020 every primary school in the diocese was given a copy of the books Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King from the Little People, Big Dreams series. The accompanying teacher notes can be used to help children explore the lives of these inspirational people and think about how their Christian faith gave them the courage to speak out and take action.
Teacher Notes
