Black History Month – October 2021

Black History Month at Habs is about celebration, education and taking to heart the message, ‘Dig Deeper, Look Closer, Think Bigger’. Across the school, there was a range of activity delivered by pupils, staff, and external speakers. We have learnt about the influence of black academics, black heroism and activism, mercurial sportspeople like footballer Lawrie Cunningham, political and historical debate around race and racism and the importance of identity in our community. We thank the pupils of the African Caribbean Society for their excellent joint assemblies on black culture, history, and their experiences as young people.

We are very keen to have guest speakers in school. Mrs Victoria Gordon, a museum education specialist, spoke to all the pupils in Years 7 to 9 about ‘London, Sugar and Slavery’. Mrs Gordon provided an objective and thoroughly engaging presentation. The physical feeling of touching cones of sugar, tobacco leaves, coffee beans, tea, sugar cane and cotton, brought home what the trade in lives for goods really meant. Mrs Gordon’s recent work at Kenwood House informed us about the family of abolitionist, Lord Mansfield, and the famous portrait of Dido Belle. We were delighted that this presentation could be given to the Girls’ School Year 7 and a joint audience of students across both schools in Year 6.

Our speaker on Diversity and Inclusion was Mr Floyd Steadman who addressed the whole school on his own story and gave advice on approaches to dealing with racism. His talk is a fascinating life history of growing up in care and succeeding as a teacher and headmaster and elite sportsperson. Floyd gave us powerful anecdotes from what he experienced in his illustrious rugby career as captain of Saracens in the amateur era. The message is clear: we must begin more conversations about attitudes and be brave and dignified about moving forward as actively anti-racist not simply non-racist or silent. We thank Floyd for his powerful presence in the school, moving between classes, speaking with numerous individuals, pupils of the African Caribbean Society and addressing the Joint Senior Leadership Teams.

We ended the half term with a non-uniform day, wearing red in support of the school charities and Show Racism the Red Card, educating about anti-racism through football. It was appropriate that we welcomed the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead from Watford FC, Karen Stephanou, to talk about the Premiership club’s approach to tackling racism in the game. Karen gave a great talk referencing ex-striker, Troy Deeney, the women’s team shirt numbers and the club’s reporting app.

It has been a very busy programme with great reach across the schools and we must not think that this work goes on only in October, but all year.