Broadening Representation in History

As a part of Year 7s provision for Curiosity Week, they have been considering the importance of positive representation in history. They examined a range of traditional textbooks of British history and discussed why the only images found of black people were those showing slaves.

We examined a range of historical examples of Black British history dating back to the Roman occupation of Britain and both recognised the role of black people in Britain far predating the transatlantic slave trade, yet also the value in learning about these other aspects of history and the more multicultural makeup of British history than has been presented in traditional textbooks.

Much discussion was had and a great deal of it centred on why these were not examples they had come across before, or why they had not been present in textbooks. They also theorised as to the collective act of forgetting the closer links, once the transatlantic slave trade became such a lucrative and entrenched part of British life.

To have challenged the view that the history of black people has been that of slavery was a crucial realisation and I was very glad to have had the opportunity to explore an aspect of history that has not been given the attention it deserves up to this point.

Miss P. Gillow

Head of History