Thought For The Day – Wednesday 22^nd October 2025

October in the United Kingdom is Black History Month.

The first Black History Month in the U.K. took place in 1987, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. The first ever month, and the idea,  was organised and inaugurated by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the U.K. from Ghana, as a refugee, in 1984. October was further chosen because it is traditionally a time when African leaders gather to talk about important issues. Appropriately, October is also near the commencement of the academic year.

The very appropriate theme for 2025 is: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”.

This theme encourages, and inspires, appropriate and respectful leadership and solidarity.

Last week, we were visited by Patrick Hutchinson, someone who wonderfully illustrates this theme.

Next half-term, in late November, we will be visited by Roland Butcher, the first black cricketer to play for England.

Black History Month, like every month should: celebrates wonderful cultural diversity; challenges, and calls out, negative prejudice and negative discrimination; remembers, and shows solidarity with, suffering, that has been, and is still, experienced; promotes the absolutely vital importance of anti-racism; recognises and makes visible the essential and invaluable contributions of black people and people of colour to society and the world in the past, present and future. In this month, and always, we make visible that which has all too often been invisible.

Premier League football matches in England last, and this, weekend are being dedicated to the “No Room For Racism” campaign.

As we heard in wonderful assemblies from Mrs. Ellen two weeks ago, thank you to the leadership of Mrs. Ellen, Mrs. Matthau, and Ms. Mac., there is another outstanding opportunity for students this Black History Month.

Students are invited, if they wish, to research and design a poster celebrating the achievements of a black person, or person of colour,  who showed leadership in history. The completed piece of work should be submitted to the student’s form tutor by Friday 7th November.  This is an excellent opportunity for students to create and think over your half-term break. Entries will be judged on originality in choice of figure, quality of historical research and quality of presentation.

Very generous prizes are, rightly, on offer for this fabulous opportunity, though the greatest prize of all, whether students decide to submit an entry or not, is to continue to show leadership, for others, and ourselves, in this very important area.

Because, once we start on the road to partiality, not universality, we, ultimately, and eventually, may not be heard ourselves.  We must continue to treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated: being the change;  valuing the vulnerable;  helping and supporting, being fair to, everyone; spreading the love;  humbly and inclusively, “standing firm in power and pride”.