All history is equal, as it is all equally in the past – surely? However… we know that is not true, as the past that is given the most coverage or prominence is usually the one that most reflects the views of those that record it. Fortunately, each generation gets an opportunity to explore the past and the narratives that it presents anew, and from that each generation can attempt to provide a better-balanced view or insight into the history that is around us. Months such as Black History Month are part of that rebalancing – that desire to present to audiences a history that is not skewed to one narrative or to reflect one image.

Black History Month enables audiences to access stories and key themes that, while always a part of the past, have not always been part of its telling. The Historical Association works all year round to ensure an inclusive history of peoples whenever possible and supports initiatives that broaden our understanding of history and the histories of those around us. In addition, we enjoy highlighting the stories of the diverse groups in our society that combine to help create the rich experiences of our local, national and global past, especially the stories that are often overlooked.

This year for Black History Month, we want to bring to your attention some resources that are available all year. We also want to focus on a recent story that we published about the Black British singer Mabel Mercer – a woman whose influence can still be felt today and yet most do not even know her name.

Primary

• Teaching black British history through local archives (Primary History article) 
• Scheme of Work: Sarah Forbes Bonetta
• Significant anniversaries: Windrush 75 (Primary History article)
• Wangari Maathai as a significant individual (Primary History article)
• Recorded Webinar: Peopling London, 47AD–1960 
• For more, see our page of Resources for Diversity in primary history, particularly the section on Race and ethnicity.

Secondary

• Lecture recording: Writing Black histories, telling Black stories 
• Putting black into the Union Jack: weaving Black history into the Year 7 to 9 curriculum (Teaching History article) 
• Cunning Plan 173: using Black Tudors as a window into Tudor England (Teaching History feature)
• Beyond slavery (Teaching History article)
• How can we find out about the experiences of Black Britons in the 1960s? – open access
• Understanding the local context of the civil rights movement in the United Kingdom through exploration of similarity and difference – open access 
• Britain and Transatlantic Slavery: Teacher Fellowship Programme outcome resources – open access 
• For more, see our page of Diversity resources for Secondary history, particularly the section on Race and ethnicity.

Historian - general audience

• Mabel Mercer, the eighth wonder of the world - open access
• Lecture recording: Writing Black histories, telling Black stories 
• Medlicott Lecture 2022 by David Olusoga 
• Robert Branford: a faithful servant of Southwark 
• At home with Amanda Ira Aldridge 
• Lecture recording: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution 
• Film series: The African-American Civil Rights Movement 
• See also podcasts below

Podcasts

(All podcasts are accessible to all HA members)

• An introduction to 20th century African and Caribbean British history 
• An introduction to 19th century African and Caribbean British history 
• African and Caribbean British history: Georgian period
• African and Caribbean British history: Stuart period
• African and Caribbean British history: Tudor period
• African and Caribbean British political activists 
• Ancient Egypt: The Old Kingdom, 2700-2200BC
• The Mali Empire, 1226-1670
• Ancient Nubia and the Kushite civilisations, 2500BC-400AD 
• The Songhay Empire 1450-1591
• The Kingdom of Kongo 1400-1709
• The Kingdom of Benin 1500-1750
• The Kingdoms and Empires of Oyo and Dahomey 1608-1800
• Booker T. Washington
• Steve Biko and the Soweto Revolt (uprising)