Take a look at these insightful and inspiring titles for older children to celebrate Black History.
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Brilliant Black British History
Atinuke
Did you know that the first people who settled on the grey-green islands of Great Britain were Black? How about that some of the Roman soldiers who invaded and even ruled Britain were Black, too? After that there were Black Tudors, Georgians and Victorians.
In this easy-to-read, chronological journey through our shared history, Atinuke brings her experience as an oral storyteller to carry readers through the fascinating history of Black people in Britain. The incredible journey through time is brought to life through illustrated scenes, detailed maps, and timelines created by illustrator Kingsley Nebechi.
Black History for Every Day of the Year
David Olusoga, Yinka Olusoga and Kemi Olusoga
‘Black History for Every Day of the Year’ by award-winning historian and broadcaster David Olusoga and his siblings, Yinka Olusoga and Kemi Olusoga, tells the story of Black history, sweeping across the world and through the ages. Discover stories of hope and connection, originality and creativity, alongside tales of racism and oppression, resistance and celebration.
From the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement to Beyoncé and Stormzy; from the Black contribution in both World Wars to the Harlem Renaissance in New York, this book is about well known figures and unsung heroes.
Shining Bright, Shining Black: Meet 100 Inspiring Black Icons
Jamia Wilson
Meet 100 icons of colour from the past, including inspiring figures from as far back as the 1500s, and present day, in this celebration of inspirational achievement. This treasury includes a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers, as well as exciting new material and a detailed timeline. Strong, courageous, talented and diverse, these extraordinary men and women’s achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream, whatever it may be.
Black and British: An Illustrated History
David Olusoga
When did Africans first come to Britain? Who are the well-dressed black children in Georgian paintings? Why did the American Civil War disrupt the Industrial Revolution? These and many other questions are answered in this essential introduction to 1800 years of the Black British history: from the Roman Africans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall right up to the present day.
10 Children Who Changed The World
Joseph Paterson and Rumbidzai Savanhu
These ten inspiring children grew up in a time when slavery was still legal in most of the world and people who looked like them weren’t expected to become important. But they did! The ten all went on to change the world through their acts of rebellion, bravery and adventure that helped secure their freedom and the freedom of so many from slavery. But how did these inspirational people change the world? To answer that, we’ll have to go back in time and met the ten aged ten, where their stories truly began.
Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You
Sonja Cherry-Paul, Ibram X Kendi, Jason Reynolds and Rachelle Baker
RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word. But actually talking about race is one of the most important things to learn how to do. Adapted from the groundbreaking bestseller ‘Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You’, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.
Bright Stars of Black British History
J. T. Williams
This richly illustrated collection presents the extraordinary life stories of fourteen bright stars from Black British history – from Tudor England to modern Britain – and charts their ongoing influence.
The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses
K.N. Chimbiri
From ancient and medieval Africa, through colonisation and enslavement, through wars, times of great change and onwards… to the creation of the NHS and beyond, the story of nursing has always also been the story of Britain’s Black nurses. This story includes many incredible nurses from around the world: talented, skilful, innovative, hardworking, resilient.
A Year of Black Joy: 52 Black Voices Share Their Life Passions
Jamia Wilson
Curated by award-winning author Jamia Wilson, A Year of Black Joy celebrates the joy, talent, and contributions of 52 Black people from around the world. By sharing the many layers and dimensions of Black life and contributions that exist outside of trauma, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to share their joy too. Each contributor is an expert in their own field, and the book covers a multitude of topics, from astrology and astronomy to beekeeping and baking.
Growing Up Black in Britain: Stories of Courage, Success and Hope
Stuart Lawrence
What is it like to grow up Black or Black dual heritage in Britain? Stuart Lawrence, brother of Stephen Lawrence, talks to eight inspirational figures about their childhood experiences, as well as sharing insight into his own. This is a collection of courageous, thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful pieces set to educate and inspire young people.
Black Music Greats: 40 Inspiring Icons
Olivier Cachin and Jérôme Masi
Each title in this series introduces readers to a fascinating non-fiction subject through its 40 most famous people or groups. In this book, 40 of the most inspirational movers, shakers and innovators in black music history are waiting to be heard. Find out about each artists most iconic shows, genre defining techniques, friends, rivals, and nicknames. Each artist profile is complete with 5 must-listen-to tracks: perfect for the budding audiophile.
Black Poppies: The Story of Britain’s Black Community in the First World War
Stephen Bourne
In 1914 there were at least 10,000 Black Britons, many of African and West Indian heritage, fiercely loyal to their mother country. Despite being discouraged from serving in the British Army during the First World War, men managed to join all branches of the armed forces and Black communities made a vital contribution, both on the front and at home.
By 1918 it is estimated that the Black population had trebled to 30,000, and after the war many Black soldiers who had fought for Britain decided to make it their home. ‘Black Poppies’ explores the military and civilian wartime experiences of these men and of women, from the trenches to the music hall.
The Place for Me: Stories About the Windrush Generation
K.N. Chimbiri
Explore the lives of the Windrush generation in this full-colour anthology that presents 12 moving tales of sacrifice and bravery, inspired by first-hand accounts. Each inspiring story helps to bring the real experience of Black British people into focus.
Windrush Child
Beniamin Țefania
The Windrush generation are named after one of the first ships that arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1948. In this heart-stopping adventure based on real historical events, Benjamin Zephaniah shows us what it was like being a child of the Windrush generation, an important and intriguing time in Britain that’s sure to fascinate young readers.
Places: Important Sites in Black British History
Melody Triumph
Who was John Edmonstone, where did he live in Edinburgh, and how did he influence Charles Darwin? What can street names tell us about Britain’s links to the Transatlantic Slave Trade? Who campaigned to Free the Cardiff Three and how did St Pauls Carnival get started? Learn all this and more, with this collection of important stories from Black British history around the UK.
Migration: Journeys Through Black British History
Millie Mensah
Discover how migration has been part of British history right from the start. For example, did you know Black people lived in Britain during Roman times? Or that there was a Black trumpeter in Henry VIII’s court?
Discover the Black British people who campaigned for the abolition of slavery in the 18th century, like Olaudah Equiano. Find out what brought people to Britain in the 20th century and what life was like for them. Learn how migration is important to Britain’s identity and history, and how it continues today.
Legacies: Black British Pioneers
Lania Narjee
Discover inspiring stories about key figures from Black British history. Learn about Britain’s Black STEM heroes, like Dr Cecil Belfield Clark who changed medicine; incredible musicians from Evelyn Dove to Arlo Parks; sports stars who broke new ground, like Maurice Burton and Lewis Hamilton; and activists like Olive Morris and Claudia Jones who fought for their communities.
Learn about the links between different legacies and how people from the past paved the way for modern day heroes.
Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
Sufiya Ahmed
Born in Britain to Indian and Egyptian parents, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was a prominent suffragette and campaigned for the women’s right to vote. Explore Sophia’s incredible life with ‘My Story’.
Ignatius Sancho
Judy Hepburn
‘Ignatius Sancho’ is the extraordinary true story of a young boy’s journey from slave to abolitionist. Greenwich 1738, and eight-year-old Ignatius lives with three sisters. He fetches and carries, does their bidding and all without thanks or a smile. Ignatius must escape and start to build a real and brilliant life for himself.
Mary Prince
E.L. Norry
Born in enslavement in Bermuda, Mary Prince travelled to England, escaped slavery and became a prominent abolitionist whose life story was the first of a Black woman’s to be published in Britain. A volume in the ‘My Story’ series, this book explores Mary’s incredible life.
Queen of Freedom: Defending Jamaica
Catherine Johnson
Blue Mountains, windward Jamaica. In the sweltering heat Captain Shettlewood leads a troop of British soldiers through the thick trees towards the river. They are hunting slaves who have escaped from the brutal plantations. Their mission: to find them, and kill them. But up ahead, hidden among the rocks above the water, a group of men with cutlasses and muskets wait patiently for the instructions of their leader.
Queen Nanny is a ‘wise woman’ with a reputation for ancient obeah magic, and a guerilla fighter with a genius for organisation. So the battle for Jamaica begins, the First Maroon War, in which the maroons – escaped slaves – will make a final, do-or-die stand against the slavers and soldiers of Empire.
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies
Erased. Ignored. Hidden. Lost. Underappreciated. No longer. Delve into the unique, inspiring, and world-changing history of Black people. From Frederick Douglass to Oprah Winfrey, and the achievements of ancient African kingdoms to those of the US Civil Rights Movement, Timelines From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies takes kids on an exceptional journey from prehistory to modern times.
Black in Time: The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today
Alison Hammond
Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? Yes? That’s great! But if you haven’t, don’t worry, you’re not alone, which is why I’m so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they’ve done!
And we’re not going to stop in the past, I’ll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we’re going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time? Course you are, let’s go!
Respect: The Walter Tull Story
Michaela Morgan
Tully and his brother don’t have much. But they do have each other. And Tully has an amazing talent. Football. But when the First World War begins, Tully must fight for respect on the battlefield not the pitch … Based on the amazing true story of Walter Tull, a First World War hero and one of the first black British professional football players.
Little Guide to Good Lives: Nelson Mandela
Isabel Thomas
Anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, Nelson Mandela’s journey from political prisoner to president of South Africa is an incredible tale of triumph in the face of adversity. 2018 marks a hundred years since his birth. From artists to aviators and scientists to revolutionaries, Little Guides to Great Lives is a brand new series of small-format guides introducing children to the most inspirational figures from history in a fun, accessible way.
The Flag Never Touched The Ground
Kekla Magoon
On a cold beach in South Carolina, the soldiers of the 54th Massachussets Regiment are marching into battle. Their mission: to capture the impregnable Fort Wagner. The odds are heavily against them, and the stakes could not be higher – they are one of the first all-Black regiments in the Union Army, and all of America is watching them. The story of an all-Black regiment’s assault on the impregnable Fort Wagner in the Civil War, an act of extraordinary courage that changed hearts and minds in America forever.
Son of the Circus: A Victorian Story
E.L. Norry
When a stranger, a man the boys don’t remember ever seeing before, appears in their kitchen, Ted is hit with a shocking revelation. This man is his father – the first black circus owner in Victorian Britain, Pablo Fanque. Before Ted can recover from his shock, he is sent away with Pablo to learn the tricks of the circus trade. Pablo is determined for Ted to follow in his footsteps. But can Ted adapt to this terrifying new life amongst strangers? And will he ever see his beloved mother and brother again?
Now or Never: A Dunkirk Story
Bali Rai
Fazal’s world is now focused on Company 32 and the animals he cares for in the midst of one of the most frightening times in history. And as he and his friends make their way to the beaches of Dunkirk, Fazal must deal with even more than the terrors of a dangerous trek to reach the evacuation zone. The Company’s captain defends his troops in the face of a terrible betrayal at the point of rescue: not everyone has welcomed the help brought by the Royal Indian Army Service Corps.
Now Fazal is forced to question why he is even there and why he is expected to be loyal to a king whose people don’t all see him as their equal.
Diver’s Daughter: A Tudor Story
Patrice Lawrence
This story explores the life of a young West African girl, Eve, living with her mother in the Southwark slums of Elizabethan London. When they hear from a Mary Rose survivor, George Symon, that one of the African free-divers who salvaged its treasures is alive and well and living in Southampton, mother and daughter agree to try to find him.
But will the pair survive when George arrives to claim his ‘share’ of the riches? Will Eve overcome her fear of water to rescue her mother from the sea?
Two Sisters: A Story of Freedom
Kereen Getten
Ruth and Anna are inseparable. Ruth has always known her half-sister isn’t like her – her almost-white skin means she is allowed certain things that Ruth can only dream of. Anna wishes she could be braver, like her sister, Ruth. But she has had to live with the fact that the smallest mistake would land not only her in danger, but Ruth and their mother, too.
When Ruth and Anna are shipped off to Master John’s home in London for their safety, it isn’t the haven they imagined. Their differences force them apart – Anna is allowed to stay upstairs while Ruth is banished to the servants’ quarters and is forced to work. With whispers of freedom on the city’s streets, will Anna find the courage to stand up for Ruth before it’s too late?
Empire’s End: A Roman Story
Lelia Rasheed
When Camilla, a young North African girl, travels from Leptis Magna to Britain with her family, she believes that she is going on a great adventure and will eventually return to Roman Libya enriched with life experience. However, on the journey she is separated from half of her family. When they arrive in Britain, they discover that the Roman emperor Septimus Severus has died. Lost in the confusion of an empire without a ruler, Camilla is believed dead by her father and left behind on the island of Britain when her family sail away.
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