News / Education
Black history is ‘more than just slavery’
A man who suffered racial discrimination and harassment when working at a Bristol school has challenged the city’s political leaders to transform the way the history of black people is taught and celebrated to children.
David McLeod was working to boost ethnic minority students’ grades at the City Academy, but was overlooked for promotion in 2012.
is needed now More than ever
Yesterday he launched a campaign to change the way schools use Black History Month to teach children largely about slavery.
He said the time had come to end the racial stereotyping this caused and instead tell children a more rounded, positive and realistic story of African history.
In a letter to mayor George Ferguson and the leaders of the main political parties in Bristol, Mr Mcleod wrote: “To openly challenge the idea that black history is ‘slavery’ is the first step towards challenging social stereotypes which stem from the slave legacy.
“In issuing this challenge I am not saying that study on the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade should be removed from the school syllabus. Rather I’m suggesting October be used as a time to celebrate, leaving any mention of ‘Slavery’ for discussion in its true context ‘The Industrial Revolution’.”
Black History Month is a month of events in October which celebrate the culture, history and achievement of Britain’s African and Caribbean communities.
The event has grown in Britain and over 6,000 annual events now take place throughout towns and cities in the UK, with more than 40 in Bristol alone last year.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Mr McLeod said providing children of all colours in Bristol schools with a true reflection of African history could allow the city to make huge strides in combatting racism.
“We have to stop seeing people like me as descendants of slaves, we need to change people’s minds and their concepts,” he said.
“Without a doubt, continually teaching children about slavery as the only part of African history reinforces stereotypes. I have heard people ask ‘what else is there to teach?’. When they find out that there was a history in Africa before the slave trade they are surprised.
“For example, I heard a Somali child a few weeks ago talk to her aunt and uncle about when ‘we were slaves’. Somalis were not enslaved and her family said that to her, but she didn’t believe it because her school had essentially told her that all of Africa had suffered slavery. We need to teach the real history of Africa.
“If we do, then a white child growing up to be a company director will have a far better understanding of a black or Asian man or woman applying for a job at his or her company.”
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