[ad_1]
Labor leader Keir Starmer will call for schoolchildren to learn more about Britain’s black history, to help them achieve “a full understanding of the fight for equality.”
As we mark the start of Black History Month by visiting the London Museum with shadow Equality Minister Marsha de Cordova, Starmer will join calls for a more diverse curriculum.
“This month we celebrate the great achievements of British Blacks and the Black community. But British Black History should be taught throughout the year, as part of a truly diverse school curriculum that includes and inspires all young people and helps a full understanding of the fight for equality, ”he said, in comments pre- published.
“While some schools are already doing this, the government must ensure that all students benefit from a diverse curriculum.”
Research by the educational charity Teach First found that students were able to complete their GCSEs and leave high school without having studied a single literary work by a non-white author.
The debate over whether the curriculum sufficiently reflects the role of British BAME and the diverse nature of society has been all the rage for many years.
The Macpherson report on the murder of Stephen Lawrence, published in 1999, called for “consideration of amending the national curriculum aimed at valuing cultural diversity and preventing racism, in order to better reflect the needs of a diverse society.”
More than 20 years later, he suggested revisiting the “lessons learned” from Windrush, “the Windrush scandal may have happened in part due to the public and officials’ poor understanding of Britain’s colonial history, the history of the internal and external migration, and the history of British blacks ”.
De Cordova said: “The Black Lives Matter movement shed light on racism in the UK and around the world. One way for the government to act would be to make sure that young people learn about the history of British blacks, colonialism and understand Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. Black history is British history. “
Starmer called on Boris Johnson to do more to address racial inequalities in the prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.
In particular, he highlighted the fact that black mothers are five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than their white counterparts. He called the statistic “truly shocking” and urged the prime minister to launch an investigation.
Johnson responded: “This administration has launched an urgent investigation into inequalities throughout society, and we will certainly address them comprehensively, and I am surprised that it seems to ignore that fact.”
The prime minister was referring to the recent launch of his commission on racial and ethnic disparities.
The Starmer spokesperson later described that response as “disappointing and dismissive,” adding: “We hope you take this issue seriously.”
Starmer has faced calls from some on the left in his party to take a more vocal stance on BAME’s issues since George Floyd’s death at the hands of US police gave new impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement.
He was photographed with his deputy, Angela Rayner, kneeling in solidarity with the activists, but made it clear that he did not agree with some of the actions taken on behalf of the campaign, including the toppling of the statue of slave owner Edward Colston in Bristol board.
He said at the time: “Taking a step back, that statue should have been knocked down a long, long time ago. We cannot, in 21st century Britain, have a slave trader on a statue. “
But he insisted: “It shouldn’t have been done that way, completely wrong to tear down a statue that way. That statue should have been taken down properly, with consent, and placed, I would say, in a museum. “
He also expressed regret at referring to Black Lives Matter as a “moment”, which critics had said meant he thought it was a passing phase rather than a sustained movement.
Labor has been treading carefully on the issues of the “culture war,” which Downing Street hopes will help Johnson draw a line with Starmer’s party and help the Conservatives keep the “red wall” seats.
