The Summer School Edit
Reflecting on history, literature and art we have pulled together “The Summer School Edit” to start the work to learn and unlearn what we were taught in school.
Scroll down to meet July’s Yes Listers.
PUT BLACK BRITISH HISTORY ON THE CURRICULUM
Lavinya Stennett is the founder of The Black Curriculum and leading the campaign to have Black British Histories taught in all schools for all ages.
The Black Curriculum confronts the impacts that teaching white Eurocentric curriculums has on children, teachers and society. And proposes an anti-racist curriculum which acknowledges and celebrates Black people’s contribution to the nation. Something that is long overdue.
KNOW YOUR FOUNDING MOTHERS
Marsha was a mother to the community at Stonewall and the Gay Liberation Movement. “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” follows activist Victoria Cruz in the search for answers neglected by the police and investigators.
30 years on the stats on the abuse and inequality trans and non-binary people still face shows just how necessary it is to be inspired by greats like Marsha to take action for trans people now.
READ THE STORIES OF WINDRUSH
One of the greatest British novelists of the 21st century, Levy felt compelled to write the stories she wished she could have read growing up. Levy wrote her novels so that she could understand her British Jamaican heritage, because she wasn’t taught it in school,
“I have worked on my novels to try and find out who I am”.
This month we are reading Levy’s fourth novel, Small Island, which follows a young couples journey from Jamaica to London in 1948.
DECOlONISE YOUR GRAM
Black Art is woefully neglected at every level of education from Primary Schools to Universities. Alayo, an Art History student at Cambridge University, is working to decolonise the institution's syllabus. Alayo’s account @ablackhistoryofart highlights overlooked Black artists, sitters, curators and thinkers - it’s a must follow.
IT’s Time to listen
Reni’s book is an essential read, the podcast “About Race” takes things to the next level. It covers everything from the historic white working class narrative, political blackness and the violence in white feminism. These essential conversations need to be part of the ongoing learning and unlearning we must all commit to now.
Our Reflections
Our reflection on what we’ve learned about anti-racist work in education and beyond while compiling The Summer School edit for July.
We’d love to know what you wish you’d been taught in school, drop us a note in comments :)