For many, that realisation begins young. Lexia Richardson, 16, from Abergavenny, said: “I remember when I was younger, my dad was pulled over by the police because he was driving a BMW and they thought he’d stolen the car.” Literature is how we share ideas, values, beliefs and even our culture. It is through this sharing of ideas that our minds and beliefs are shaped, and it is ultimately how we stop our minds being the ‘weapon in the hands of the oppressor’ Biko talked about. In contrast, there are 21 modules on British history that make little to no reference to the empire. Can ‘Hitler and the Henrys’ be taught differently? You will be familiar with much of what we present here. We can’t offer you a fresh perspective on these, but we can navigate our way through the material, looking for self-education and challenge, try to keep our minds open and to absorb the wealth of information, and the huge variety of stories, made available thanks to the work these writers, presenters, publishers and archivists have put in. On 31 May, poets and artists including Mandla Rae, Isaiah Hull, Saf Elsenossi, and Damani Dennisur, performed at Our City Speaks with Manchester City of Literature. Originally streamed online, the showcase is still available to watch. Events coming up in the next few days include the OWN IT! Online Festival – a week-long arts festival from 8-14 June, featuring writers such as Derek Owusu, Courttia Newland, and JJ Bola.

A year after the 2020 protests, there are small indications of improvement – more non-white faces on our screens, for example. But a year is still insufficient time to see significant change. Stennett says when history is taught well, it has a positive influence on BAME pupils. “People feel seen where they were not seen before,” she adds. “It gives them a sense of identity and belonging in the classroom.”Over the past six months, Natasha says she has become more resilient. “I’ve learned so much, but I’m always keen on learning more … If you learn how the house is built, you’re going to know how to dismantle it.” Benitha Iradukunda, 25, Edinburgh IOPC name two serving Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers and one former MPS officer who are to appear in court charged in connection with our investigationinto the sending and sharing of inappropriate messages on WhatsApp.

Lawrence Goldman was a fellow of St. Peter's College, Oxford and held a lectureship in the Oxford History Faculty for 29 years. For all that time, as well as teaching British History, he taught the history of slavery in the United States, particularly the final year Special Subject 'Slavery, Race and the Crisis of the Union 1857-1875'. He is now retired and an emeritus fellow of St. Peter's.In London, Derrell Thomas was reminded of his own terrifying encounter with the police when he watched footage of Floyd’s death. Colston hauled … a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston is dumped in the river Avon on 7 June, 2020. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images