Local School Celebrates Black History
October is a special time of the year every year. Not just because of Halloween but also because of Black History Month. Schools and communities all over the country celebrate this annual event and think about black culture and what being black really means in society. When the first Black History Month event was held on the first of October 1987, nobody could ever imagine how popular it would become. Because of this special occasion and how it brought people of all minorities together, millions of people now dedicate this month to black history and this helps us all understand even more about the struggles of racism in the past and even in today’s society.
Bexleyheath Academy is one of the schools that celebrate black history every year and on Tuesday 20th October 2015 they put on another exciting and influential night of race culture and diversity. Around 40 pupils from years 7- 13 at this secondary school in Bexleyheath, North Kent, took part in celebrating who they are and put on an amazing show to portray this. Tickets of entry were only £3 and the show included some of the schools finest talent from Afro-Caribbean students. The two-hour performance with a fifteen minute interval brought amazing singing, dancing, acting and poetry all organised, written and performed by the pupils themselves.
Tickets were sold out and the queue for entrance was out of the door! In the break African food was available to give more cultural influence to the audience who came to watch, it tasted good too! This show was just as successful as the years before (maybe even better) and it never fails to entertain those who come along.
The end of the night showcased a fashion show of African and other continental clothes from around the world; the whole room was full of bright colours and happy people. But what is really the aim of Black History Month and what message does it give the school? A student who took part in the show explained “It’s so important because it sheds light on the history of black people and black culture that maybe otherwise forgotten in our world. It also helps to create tolerance and equality in our school as well as outside. This year’s theme was ‘Stand Your Ground’, it aimed to power young minds in the school and society to stand up to inequality."
I as a student myself at the Academy thoroughly enjoyed not only the night but the whole Black History Month itself. I learnt so much about black culture and religion in October as it is so important to understand racism because it has such a huge impact on not only today’s society but the pasts as well. I would recommend anyone to participate in next year’s Black History Month and come along to the show as it never fails to disappoint.
Erin Theobald, Bexleyheath Academy
