Thought For The Day – Thursday 17^th October 2024

October in the United Kingdom is Black History Month. 

Black History Month celebrates wonderful cultural diversity.

Black History Month challenges, and calls out, negative prejudice and discrimination.

Black History Month remembers, and shows solidarity with, suffering that has been, and is still, experienced. 

Black History Month promotes the absolutely vital importance of anti-racism.

Black History Month greatly recognises the essential and invaluable contributions of black people and people of colour to society and the world in the past, present and future.

Black History Month makes these stories visible.

For sometimes, and oftentimes, these stories have not been visible.

Sometimes, and oftentimes,  these stories have not been visible enough.

Sometimes, and oftentimes, these stories have been even been intentionally, or subconsciously, airbrushed.

But everyone matters.

To not recognise, and respect, diversity and inclusion is to not recognise and respect life.

To not recognise, and respect, diversity and inclusion is to go against ourselves.

After all, we wish others to respect us.

So we respect others.

Very appropriately therefore, the theme of Black History Month 2024 is “Reclaiming Narratives,” as personal and collective stories are corrected, highlighted, recognised and respected.

In one year 8 Religious Studies and Citizenship class yesterday, students, by chance, shared their personal histories and family stories. A respected International journalist from Mauritius, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, a passenger on the ground-breaking “H.M.T. Empire Windrush” and a family journey in a bus company (from bus conductor on one generation to owner of all the busses in that company in the following generation) were just some personal stories in their history.  It was fascinating to hear students volunteer this information. One group, many narratives.

Everyone has a journey and a story. Be proud of your story and journey.

Heroes are all around us.

And together our personal stories become our shared history.

Your journey and story is our journey and story.

Unity in diversity.  Diversity in unity.

No one is forgotten in the past, present and future.  Everyone is precious.

Thanks to the leadership of Mrs. Ellen and Mrs. Matthau once again, there is another great opportunity this Black History Month.  You are invited, if you wish, to research and write a short story, of no more than 1,000 words, based on the life and achievements of a historical person of colour.  Your piece of work should be submitted to your form tutor by Friday 8^th November. 

Very generous prizes are rightly on offer for this fabulous opportunity, though the greatest prize, whether you decide to write a piece or not, is to continue to play your part in “reclaiming the narrative”.  For others. For yourself.

Thank you very much to Mrs. Miles for leading Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at TBSHS.