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October marks Black History Month in the UK, an initiative which acknowledges and celebrates all black lives and their achievement. Topics related to black influential figures are covered by all departments at Lancing, and are addressed in various ways during the academic year.
During the month of October, staff created a brilliant Black History Month noticeboard in the Science Department, showing pictures and stories of influential scientists and people who have contributed greatly to science. For example, Henrietta Lacks in the Stem Cell topic or Neil DeGrass Tyson in Physics.
In English we look at some major black writers, for example Zadie Smith in Women in Lit. Early modern drama offers opportunities to explore stereotypes through the figures of Aaron the Moor and Othello, for example. Reading and viewing recommendations for Black History Month are shared with pupils and staff.
In Psychology our pupils have been discussing research on stereotypes and the influence of positive black role models is highlighted in the media; Photography students have been researching the article ‘Image of Whiteness’ as a vehicle for discussion in their academic lessons. The Computing Department has been studying the figure of Dorothy Vaughan, an African-American woman who was at the forefront of NASA computing in the Space Race.
The Languages Department focused on study of Namibia as a former German colony; Costa Rica’s first Afro-Caribbean novelist; and Alexandre Dumas, whose father was born on the now Francophone island of Haiti to a freedwoman of African origin.
In the Music School our musicians have been discussing why it is important to celebrate Black History Month (including links to slavery and suppression of culture), and have researched composers such as Florence Price, Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Errollyn Wallen. Next term, all Third Form pupils will study a specially designed module entitled Diversity in Music which focuses on black composers of classical music, and the influence of the music of Africa on Western classical music.
The D&T curriculum – specifically the Design History module – includes various designers from different backgrounds, whilst in Art they share lists of recommended artists for pupils to research and discuss.
The Drama Department uses a lot of diverse texts and many of those are from black playwrights. This is part of ongoing schemes of work across many year groups. Students are exposed to views and circumstances, often unlike their own. Examples are Katori Hall, Malorie Blackman, Roy Williams, August Wilson, Wole Soyinka and Lorraine Hansberry.
The History Department consistently works to draw out the often-overlooked black voices of the past ,and the often-forgotten but fundamental black historical influences upon our complex present.
In Geography a concerted effort is made across the curriculum to ensure that we don’t ever just teach the ‘single story’ about places; for example, when studying Lagos (Nigeria) we make an effort to teach as much about the Nigerian business people and millionaires in Lagos Island as we do about those living in Makoko floating slum.
In Religious Studies discussions also focus on racial equality, whilst in Classic Civilisation and Latin research is done on attitudes to race in the ancient world. In Politics the Upper Sixth Form classes have discussed the landmark US Supreme Court ruling Brown v Board of Education (1954) calling for the desegregation of schools in the American South and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The Economics Department discusses Development Economics and BAME Economics, whilst in Sport a dedicated lecture from Norman Cowans (the Jamaican-born former England cricketer) will take place in November.