Courses and Resources

Black History Walks is dedicated to helping educators create engaging learning experiences for their students. Over the past 17 years, the BHW team have created an extensive catalogue of resources to support teachers, pupils and the public in exploring Black history in Britain.

Resources

In 2022, delayed from 2020 by the pandemic, Jacaranda published our revolutionary book ‘Black History Walks in London Volume 1′ a written walking tour of the city from an African/Caribbean perspective. See it HERE

In 2021 in collaboration with Pearson Edexcel we produced a unique and pioneering GCSE exam text book for schools. The book features Black British Civil Rights activism in Notting Hill and is based on our walk in that area. The book is presently used by 10,000 pupils in 140 schools. For details and a sample chapter click HERE .We also worked with the National Portrait Gallery on three short art videos which can be seen HERE

In 2011, we worked with Teachers TV to create a mini-documentary based on our walks for use in classrooms. The interactive video, split into four sections, covers important historical events, figures and venues including the Bank of England, Docklands, war memorials, William Davidson and Olaudah Equiano.

Since creating this documentary, we have added countless videos, books, websites and DVDs to our bank of educational resources. The Black History Walks YouTube channel is a rich source of video content that includes talks by academics and experts as well as insights into the events we run. To see our latest events click here

Courses

Our Black history online courses are popular with learners around the world. We run public courses on James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, History of Black Film, African Women Resistance Leaders four times a year. Our programme of talks (both online and in-person) provides a fantastic learning resource for course participants, and we are always happy to hear from groups who would like to arrange a bespoke talk or course for their educational or business setting. Get in touch to discuss your bespoke learning activity. To see our latest offering click here

Websites

www.youtube.com/blackhistorywalks 300 short video clips relating to African-British history
www.goldendestiny.co.uk Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush, Secrets of the Afro comb 6000 years of Art and Culture, the Story of Early Ancient Egypt Prehistoric and Old Kingdom 20,000 to 2181 B.C. Three history books on African history specially written for primary/secondary school pupils
Caribbean Aircrew in World War 2 website Cy Grants unique website
www.beforetheslavetrade.com Pictorial details of 15 African civilisation prior to European invasion
www.100greatblackbritons.com 100 biographies of great Black British people,very useful for schools
www.whenweruled.com Website to accompany 700 page book of same name on African civilisations
Caribbean National Archives Section of the National Archives focused on the Caribbean
www.blackpresence.co.uk Various articles on centuries of Black presence in the UK
www.britishmuseum.org/learning/schools_and_teachers/ Nine ancient African states with factsheets
4 Apps to Teach your Child Black History Games and interactive quizzes on geography, science, culture and heroes
African map game Interactive map game teaching locations and names of African countries
www.black-history-month.co.uk Event listing website with book,dvd sales and articles
www.bispublications.com 4 books on Black scientists and inventors
http://www.drlez.co.uk/about-us Consultants on African history, presentations, workshops, training
http://www.lacriminaldefensepartners.com/constitution-14th-amendment/ Article on US constitution and how it did not really provide equality for all which is why there was a fight for Civil Rights in the 1960’s 70’s
https://employment.law.tulane.edu/articles/history-of-law-the-fourteenth-amendment.html History of law, The fourteenth Amendment (Libby)
https://aizmanlaw.com/constitution-14th-amendment/ 14th Amendment resource supplied by Peyton Wertz
https://www.italiandualcitizenship.net/legal-history-of-the-14th-amendment/ (from Becca)
Black Wall Street Media https://blackwallst.media/ https://blackwallst.media/

DVDs

Let us Die Like Brothers by Commonwealth War Graves commission. Details of Black South African soldiers killed in WW1 SS Mendi disaster off the coast of the Isle of Wight
Grove Roots by Octavia Youth Foundation. Black British Civil Rights in 60’s/70’s Notting Hill, West London
Hidden Herstories Octavia Youth Foundation. Black British Females and Civil Rights in London 60’s/70’s
Coming to England with Floella Benjamin. Black British Civil Rights from a 10 year old childs perspective
Loving Hands, the Sybil Phoenix story directed by Lucia Tambini. Black British Civil Rights 1970s to present. The story of the first Black women to receive an MBE and how/why she refused it
Shirley Chisholm Unbought and Unbossed Fantastic story of the first black woman to run for President of the USA in 1972
500 Years Later directed by Owen Alik Shahadah. Award winning, comprehensive overview of African history
Nubian Sprit directed by Louis Buckley. History of Sudan’s classical civilisation
Lion Mountains directed by Louis Buckley. History of Sierra Leone’s links to Britain
Son of Africa directed by Alrick Riley. Story of Olaudah Equiano who escaped slavery and publsihed a book in London in 1789)
Life and Debt directed by Stephanie Black .How the IMF/World Bank made Jamaica poor
Respect: Biggin Up Black History. Black WW2 veterans interviewed by teenagers
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome with Dr Joy de Gruy Leary. Psychological impact of slavery on modern culture
When African Americans came to Paris Educational DVD by Walking the Spirit tours on the Black History of Paris
Motherland directed by Owen Alik Shahadah. Award winning documentary of African views on future development

Books

Black History Walks Volume 1 First book on the Black history in London’s streets, 20 years of research, also on Audible
Under One Flag : Details of the crucial roles of African, Asian and indigenous people of the British Empire played in World War 2. Forewords by Prince Harry and Johnson Beharry the Grenadian man who won the Victoria Cross
Migrants in Britain c800 to present student book with Pearson GCSE based on our Notting Hill walk
Ki-Ra’s Coily Crown lovely children’s book about self esteem and hair by MSL
Before the Slave Trade Robin Walker. Pre European invasion African civilisations in pictures
Before the Slave Trade Learning Resource, to go with the book
When We Ruled, Robin Walker. 700 page comprehensive review of thousands of years of African civilisations
Black Mamba Boy, Nadifa Mohamed. Amazing adventure story of Somalis who fought in the WW2 merchant navy, trekked across deserts and came to Britain
Staying power the History of Black People in Britain 211AD to 1981, Peter Fryer the legendary book
Black Victims of the Nazis, Zia N Reynolds. The life of Africans in Germany and German colonies 1904-1945
Maroon Teachers: Teaching the Transatlantic Trade in enslaved Africans, Sandra Indrajit Gift . How to teach this diffiult subject
The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, Olaudah Equiano an African who freed himself from slavery and became a leader of the London abolition movement published this book on his life in 1789
The Longman Companion to Slavery Emancipation and Civil Rights , Harry Harmer. Excellent
Bury the Chains , Adam Hochschild. Best selling book on Britains true role in slavery and its abolition apart from the self congratulatory hyberbole
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, Walter Rodney. Classic book detailing Europe’s dependence on Africa to establish modern society
After Abolition Britain and the Slave Trade since 1807 , Marika Sherwood exposes the persistence of slavery in British colonies up to World War 2
Life according to Maas Roy, Yvonne Archer. Story of post windrush Jamaican veteran in the Army
Trading Souls Europe’s Transatlantic Trade in Africans Prof Hilary Beckles & Prof Verene Shepherd superb book on the topic
West Indian Women at War. British racism in World War 2, Ben Bousquet & Colin Douglas. The only book on West Indian women in WW2
Lest We Forget Robert N Murray. Memoirs of Caribbean servicemen in WW2 Britain
Reconstructing the Black Image, Gordon de la Mothe. The Black image since the 1500’s
Black Scientists and Inventors books 1-4, Michael Williams excellent lists and notes of Black Scientist
Step Back in Time to Ancient Kush, Secrets of the Afro comb 6000 years of Art and Culture, the Story of Early Ancient Egypt Prehistoric and Old Kingdom 20,000 to 2181 BC from www.golden-destiny.com 3 history books on African history specially written for primary/secondary school pupils
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome groundbreaking book on after effects of enslavement on cultural behaviour
Untold Histories: Black People in England and Wales during the period of the British slave trade C1660-1807. Kathleen Chater
4 Apps to teach your child Black History games and interactive quizzes on geography, science, culture and heroes
Image of the Black in London Galleries highlights the Black presence to be found in the national art collections in London.
The John Blank Projectis an art and archive project celebrating John Blanke, the Black trumpeter to the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, the first person of African descent in British history for whom we have both an image and a record.

Reviews of Black History Walks, Tours & Talks

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The audience and the panellists had some incredibly positive feedback about your presentation. It went down so well and was a brilliant combination of information, revelation and humour. There were also a number of attendees whose firms or companies had organised a Black History Walk with yourself and also had nothing but positive feedback

I just wanted to let you know that the students REALLY enjoyed the tour yesterday. I polled them in class and everyone overwhelmingly had positive things to say. They particularly enjoyed how you incorporated modern day information into the tour. They said it was extremely informative and made it seem all really relevant. And today it was great listening to them as they walked around central London, noticing some of the things you'd pointed out. So, your work was very well received. Well done and thank you!

What an amazing tour! It completely moved me to rethink the intricate web of social, economic and political relations that characterize British imperial rule and racial politics. Engaging, moving, will keep you asking more questions. The best way to get to know London.

We are studying Migrants in Britain with Edexcel, and to participate in a workshop/talk from one of the authors of the Pearson textbook was a fantastic learning opportunity for our students. His insight and in-depth knowledge of Notting Hill combined with his well-pitched and flexible delivery meant our students were fully engaged for three full hours, which is some feat! They loved the many jokes and links to their own music tastes, and I am confident that they will retain more knowledge for the final exam thanks to his input. I have rebooked for next year.

Thank you for organizing a wonderful walking tour for my students. You are incredibly knowledgeable, and it was such a joy to hear your take on things. The students loved this field trip. You did an excellent job relating the history, culture, and social contributions of Black and Afro-Caribbean people in a fun and lively way while still emphasizing the seriousness and importance of this often overlooked aspect of British life. I could not have asked for a better supplement to my Sociology course on race, identity, and culture. I really appreciate you helping make the class so special and look forward to arranging another.