Black Lives Matter
Following the murder of George Floyd, a black American man, by American police officers, hundreds of thousands of people around the world have marched on the streets, protesting against the racism and prejudice towards black people under the banner ‘Black Lives Matter’. It has prompted many people to think about the inequalities that exist in society and how these affect their community as well as their own lives.
At Balfour Primary School, we are lucky to have a diverse school community and we celebrate our differences in appearance, language, religion, culture and interests, while looking for the similarities that connect us. We want everyone to be proud of who they are, their families, their beliefs and their links with other communities and cultures. We also need to give all members of our community the skills to be able to stand up for themselves and others whenever we see or hear prejudice as well as question our part in creating equal opportunities for all. As London Mayor Sadiq Khan said’ no institution can absolve itself of the responsibility to do better. We must stand together and root out racism wherever it is found.’
It is clearly very important for us all to understand the history of racism in the UK and across the world and hear the voices and stories of those who have first-hand knowledge of racial prejudice. Over the coming months, we will be thinking about how we can review and develop our curriculum and our practise in school. We would welcome the input from members of our community and city on how best to do this.
Were it not for the current disruption to school life, we would have used our assemblies and PSHE lessons to explore what is currently happening in the news but are unable to do this at the moment. Instead we want to offer some suggestions of resources you could explore at home. Together, you could watch some of these videos, and read some of the books to find out more about what lead to the Black Lives Matter protests, what racism is and how to stand up against it.
This link has some helpful advice about talking with your child about race and racism and why it is important.
Example resources
Many of these resources are American. We are seeking out more resources showing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic families in the UK. Do let us know if you know of any.
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KS1 resources 5-7 years |
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Elmo from Sesame street talks to his dad about the Black Lives Matter protests |
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A picture book about the 1963 Freedom march in the USA |
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A story celebrating differences and similarities between people |
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A book celebrating diversity in a community. |
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A book about an inclusive school community. |
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A book which encourages everyone to speak up and say how they feel about the world around them. |
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KS2 Resources 8-11 years |
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CBBC Newsround coverage of recent events in the USA and around the world |
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A clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens |
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A discussion about race and equality and similarity and difference. |
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The story of two families - one white, one black - as they discuss a police shooting of a black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. |
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The story of a white girl coming to understand the racism which asks white children and parents to become curious about racism, accept that it's real, and cultivate justice. |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnptqGnM4xQ&list=PLJMhRcr10uVs-Dxpgs41ZapIZYfIfw7St&index=5 |
Story of the Freedom march for desegregation of schools in Alabama in 1963 |
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The Undefeated is a poem picture book which remembers unforgettable, unafraid and unbowed, famous and overlooked figures from black history |
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A photography project which shows the beauty of human skin of every colour. |
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A book about what it means to be a citizen and the positive role they can play in society. |
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