Black History Month 2020: Decolonising the Curriculum?
Reflecting on Possibilities and Contradictions at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience
During Black History Month 2020, the Equity, Diversity and Decolonisation group at CAWR organised an online conference/workshop/discussion with the aims:
- To celebrate black history month within CAWR
- To learn from decolonising and anti–racism work within Coventry University
- To start a conversation on decolonising the curriculum, teaching and learning within CAWR
- To create an action plan for decolonising the curriculum, teaching and learning within CAWR
The Morning Panel focused on decolonising and anti–racism perspectives in Coventry University – and encouraged us to think about how Decolonising the curriculum is rooted in action for transforming society that is personal and political.
Here’s Gus John: Self-Reflection on Black history and how it informs decolonisation thinking today:
Gus discussed his personal story of migrating from the Caribbean to the UK, and the racist challenge that he faced in the UK. He discussed the historical context of racism in the UK and gave examples of ways in which black communities resisted it, for example, by setting up supplementary schools.
What is Black History Month and why is it important? The BBC writes:
“..Why is Black History Month important?
Black history month was first launched in London in the 1980s, where the aim was for the local community to challenge racism and educate themselves and others about the British history that was not taught in schools. Black people have been in Britain for a lot longer than previously thought – One of the oldest skeletons ever found was that of the Cheddar Man who had dark skin.
Archaeologists, the people who study human history through digging up sites looking at bones and ancient objects, think that he was alive during the stone age…”.