The Case for Including Black History in the National Curriculum

Abstract

This article argues that the version of history taught in schools across Britain in the past has been damaging to pupils both black and white. To gather data about the pre sent status of black history in the National Curriculum, questionnaires were sent to 75 participants by mail and there was also some opportunistic distribution. Eighty-one percent of these were teachers, lecturers, academics and members of NGOs; the other 19% were social workers, clergymen, lawyers and senior civil servants. Forty-five percent responded. The research began in May 1998 prior to the Macpherson Report on the Lawrence Enquiry (pub lished in March 1999) and before the July 1999 publication of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's QCA) consultative document proposing changes to the National Curriculum. The study produced no definitive definition of what is black history but a simple characterisation can be given. 'Black' here refers to peoples from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and their descendants but similarly recognises the needs of people of mixed relationships, those from China, their descendants and other minority groups.