Over the past week I have seen the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping across the United States and Europe. I have taken the opportunity to listen to, and learn from, the experiences and views of black and ethnic minority voices from both sides of the Atlantic.
This week, my blog is not about my voice. At this moment, the world does not need to hear from another white male in a position of authority, another beneficiary of unseen privilege. This week, I will use my blog to amplify voices that have helped my understanding, by giving me a window into an experience that is not my own.
Dave: Black (Live at the BRITs 2020)
#BlackLivesMatter: Kennedy Cook
No! You Cannot Touch My Hair
British Nigerian Bristolian Mena Fombo describes her experience of the objectification of black women, and her drive to challenge it through her #DONTTOUCH “No, You Cannot Touch My Hair” campaign
Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo’s novel won the 2019 Booker Prize. I have just finished reading this story of the lives of 12 characters – most of them black, most of them women – and their intertwined experiences over the course of several decades. It is sensational.
All Lives Matter?
What next?
- As Headteacher of the Academy, I am pledging that we will continue to strengthen our curriculum to ensure that all perspectives and voices are represented and valued.
- We will continue to actively teach anti-racism at the Academy, ensuring that we are a school which actively works to reduce inequalities and make a positive difference to our society.
The Headteacher's Blog 
I am sat reading this and watching the clips with tears streaming down my cheeks. I have spent the past week trying to educate myself better to try and give my children some explanations and answer their own questions about racism raised by the current situation and one thing that comes up time and time again is that all children whatever their age must understand the Black Lives Matter movement and schools play a vital role in this. Thankyou for this blog and Thankyou for the What Next points at the end. This helps me know I won’t be supporting my daughter alone with this and the school, as soon as they have the opportunity to, will continue to teach and nurture an anti racist community. My daughter is in year 9 and we have had many conversations about people, including classmates, touching her hair without asking. I am white and struggled at first to understand this however as she became older I finally ‘got it’ and we have discussed how to deal with these situations. Thankyou for this blog.
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