Hello! You’re invited to our Black History Month event, the Black Digital Innovators’ Showcase.
This is a long post but please read on for more information about why we run this event.
In the UK, October is Black History Month (BHM) when we celebrate the stories, cultures and achievements of Black people, just as other groups celebrate through the year.
As some of you may know, I (Oma) am also a teacher. In many of the schools across London and Essex where I have worked (at 100, I stopped counting! See footnote for explanation) there is a staple content rolled out, rinsed and repeated, year-in, year-out across the entire programme of study (Year 1 – 5-years-old, to Year 11 – 15-years-old). Typically, schools and communities feature African American entertainers, sports people and activists. In one school, it was Rosa Parks on the bus, Martin Luther King Jnr having a dream, Nelson Mandela triumphing over apartheid and a few Motown singers and some rappers. They were swapped around the school each year and that was all the students got to learn about the history of Black people. That they are either fighting against oppression or entertaining people. Not factual, not expanding knowledge or thinking and not empowering to anyone at all. Yes, the featured Black people had achieved much, and there are evergreen lessons to learn from their journeys. However, how well can our young people relate to their lives, career paths and experiences?
In one school, it was Rosa Parks on the bus, Martin Luther King Jnr having a dream, Nelson Mandela triumphing over apartheid and a few Motown singers and some rappers.
We know from educational and social theory that seeing people like ourselves succeed at something we aspire to builds self belief (modelling in Social Learning Theory). We know that seeing others like ourselves achieving what we want to achieve fosters motivation and a sense of belonging, a feeling that ‘I can too,’ (Self-determination Theory). On the other hand, the theory of Stereotype Threat says that negative stereotypes lower performance (‘there’s no one like me there, perhaps it’s not for me’). And Identity-Based Motivation says that representation links identity to aspiration. The combined effect of these phenomena tell us that seeing others like you succeed helps you believe positively about yourself (identity) and that you can succeed too (belonging, motivation, aspiration). And that NOT seeing others like you in a space sends a subconscious warning that you don’t belong there and are unlikely to succeed there.
So, what does all this say about a curriculum where the contributions and achievements of Black people are largely absent? And the one time they are centred, it’s the same rota of entertainers and activists you are shown, fighting and entertaining? This is all part of the school curriculum, by the way, even if the informal side of it. If you’re a teacher or head teacher, this doesn’t look good against Teaching Standard 1 (setting high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils), Standard 2 (promoting good progress and outcomes) and Standard 3 (demonstrating good subject and curriculum knowledge, which includes providing relevant curriculum). And it leads to low aspirations, racial stereotypes, community fragmentation and a loss to the community of potential, peace and progress. This isn’t just for the Black students, by the way, it’s for everyone. Because we all deserve to learn about all parts of the world we live in and be prepared to live harmoniously together in it.
Black History Month is a great opportunity to enrich the curriculum for all – not just for Black students.
So, for years, I have sent out reminders to teachers on social media and to colleagues where I have worked that we need a more robust, more aspirational and more empowering curriculum, for BHM and everyday. One that shows Black people achieving the same things that everyone else in the community achieves, and not just Black people entertaining and fighting against oppression. Last year, to help teachers find such empowering curriculum resources, I ran an Instagram campaign featuring 27 Black Digital Innovators, in line with TEKSHAQQ’s focus on social mobility through digital inclusion. Here’s a snapshot of what it looked like.
You can see some of the series on the left and the campaign insights on the right. The insights show that by that particular day and time, there had been 2,495 views, 23 likes, 19 saves, 1 comment, 66 profile views and 21 new follows. This told us that it was content that people want, and so, we have begun making curriculum resources out of it. Even further, we have decided to run an in-person event this year!
What you can expect:
- Biographies of 30 digital innovators of Black/African heritage from around the world showcasing how they are using technology to solve local and international problems, and the various ways in which their achievements have been celebrated.
- Activities challenging the innovator in you – drawing out ways that you could innovate too!
- Representation that breaks negative stereotypes about Black people – I heard a young person once say that Black people don’t invent things. You can’t blame them if they never hear or see otherwise.
- Information about career opportunities in tech, something to explore and aspire towards if tech-inclined. Here at TEKSHAQQ, we promote tech careers as an accessible way to achieve upward social mobility. Come along and let’s talk about it!
- Learning resources, and information about our upcoming ones, giving an introduction into the world of tech. If you are an educator (in school or home), looking to enrich your curriculum in this way, come along and let’s talk!
Can you name 5 Black people from the continent of Africa using technology to solve world problems? Do you know that some of your everyday technology was invented by Africans in tech?
We will be at the Barking Learning Centre from the 13th to the 23rd of October, 10 am to 5 pm. If you are unable to make the week days, please come on the Saturday (18th).
If you are a school, or home schooling group, how about bringing a class/group along? Click here on our contact page if you would like to come as a group. And if you cannot arrange this before the 23rd, we’ll be happy to bring the event to your school. Contact us and let’s arrange this.
Lastly, if you are an organisation interested in partnering with us to bring digital skills and digital careers opportunities to the underrepresented in London, please get in touch. Click here to do so.
Please go here to register at this link for the event: https://tinyurl.com/DigInShow/
Or click QR code in the flyer below to register (you may need to enlarge the image):
Why register? It enables us to prepare to receive you, to report on our impact and to send you the resources we promise, after the event.
Thanks for reading this very long post. The TEKSHAQQ Team looks forward to meeting you.
Best wishes, Oma!
