Black History Month is a time not only to reflect on the past, but also to recognise the people, voices and contributions shaping our communities today: the quiet acts of perseverance, the barriers faced in education and employment and the comments, assumptions and behaviours that impact how people feel seen, valued and included.  

Throughout the month of October, Gresham’s pupils have explored some of these individuals’ lives and their contributions to society through their history, literature, music, film and language lessons.

IB Film pupils examined scenes from the movie Black Panther, which touches on issues of colonialism and cultural appropriation. They also studied the mixed/Black heritage theorist Stuart Hall, who studied how audiences ‘receive’ texts, some of which can be influenced by their cultural backgrounds. 

In IB English B, pupils studied civil rights activist Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which calls for civil and economic rights and an end to racism. 

Lily D continued her study of Maya Angelou and Amanda Gorman’s contributions to American presidential inaugural speeches and how their words reflected the politics of the time.

Darya T created a wonderful library display of books to celebrate and educate us about Black history and experience.

OG and now a member of staff, Nureyn M, treated the school community to two talks, one in chapel and one as part of our enrichment programme in which he focused on Black identity and life in Britain and how having attended ten different schools during his childhood had made him reflect upon belonging and inclusion.

Finally, our ever-creative catering team cooked up a delicious feast of jerk chicken, rice and peas and Jamaican bananas and cream for us to sample some examples of Afro-Caribbean cuisine.