CULTURAL APPRECIATION
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.” Mahatma Ghandi
Thurstable School recognises that society is formed by a tapestry of cultures and that we can learn from each other whatever our backgrounds. Culture, in this sense, can be diverse in a number of ways and can be drawn from many factors including race or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, wealth, class and religion. An appreciation of culture is promoted in a variety of ways. It is explicitly looked at in a number of subjects including English, RE, History, Geography, PSHE, Art, Drama and Music and through assemblies and events run in the school. However, it is also implicit in the work of the school: the school aims to promote respect, foster an interest in other people, in community and what it means to belong to a group.
Organisations
Black Cultural Archives – Located in Brixton, this charity aims to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities and society.
https://www.instagram.com/bcaheritage/
https://twitter.com/bcaheritage
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust – Working with young people from disadvantaged areas aged 13-30 to inspire and enable them to succeed in the career of their choice. They also influence others to create a fairer society in which everyone, regardless of their background, can flourish.
https://www.instagram.com/S_Lawrencetrust/
BLAM Charity – Committed to ensuring that the Black British Community is represented and appreciated in education and society. They facilitate a positive social dialogue about Blackness.
https://www.instagram.com/blamcharity/
https://twitter.com/BLAMCharity?s=20
The Black Curriculum – A social enterprise founded in 2019 to address the lack of Black British history in the UK school curriculum.
https://www.instagram.com/theblackcurriculum/
https://twitter.com/CurriculumBlack?s=20
Reroot.ED – an educational campaign run by young people. Our goal is to make the UK’s history curriculums anti-racist, critical and inclusive.
Books & Articles
Books
Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge - Available on Amazon.
Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch - Available on Amazon.
Natives by Akala - Available on Amazon.
Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri - Available on Amazon.
Black History Matters by Robin Walker - Available on Amazon.
The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla and various authors - Available on Amazon.
Articles
Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge - Guardian Article & Audio.
George Floyd protests: What do 'white privilege' and 'ally' mean? - BBC Article.
The black British history you may not know about by Kameron Virk - BBC Article.
"Gal-dem" racism articles - Galdem Website.
Teen Vogue racism articles - Teen Vogue Website.
Anti-racism requires more than passive sympathy by Joshua Virasami - Guardian Article.
Letters & Petitions
UK Government: Take racial justice seriously – Amnesty International have a drafted a letter you can send to your local MP
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/black-lives-matter-write-your-mp
Make Black British History Compulsory in Schools
Teach British children about the realities of British Imperialism and Colonialism
More protection for Black Trans Women UK
https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-more-protection-for-black-trans-women-uk
Protect Afro textured hair! Amend the UK Equality Act to include hair.
Justice for Belly Mujinga who died of Covid-19 working for London Transport with no PPE
https://www.change.org/p/govia-thameslink-justice-for-belly-mujinga-justiceforbellymujinga
Videos, Films & Documentaries
James Corden: It’s Time for Change - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZIzYwmEDE&feature=youtu.be
Injustice - The struggles for justice by the families of people that have died in UK police custody - https://vimeo.com/34633260
BBC Back In Time For Brixton: A family experience what life was like for the first Caribbean immigrants to Britain https://www.facebook.com/ItsBlackRooted/videos/778938518973142/
Jane Elliott on Her "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise" and Fighting Racism - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2z-ahJ4uws
Dave - Black (Live at The BRITs 2020) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXLS2IzZSdg
When They See Us - Netflix
The Hate You Give - Amazon Prime
Mudbound - Netflix
13th - Netflix
I Am Not Your Negro - Amazon Prime
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson - Netflix