Bright Stars of Black British History

Presents the extraordinary life stories of fourteen Black British people whose contributions to our shared history are noteworthy for their achievements in the worlds of literature, theatre, journalism, politics, medicine, sport and music. Carefully researched and eloquently written by Black British author and educator Joanna Brown, the book brings to life Black British stars from Tudor England through to modern Britain. The book touches on several strands already in the UK curriculum ¿ the Kingdom of Benin (KS2 History), Transatlantic Slave Trade (KS3 History) ¿ and is written with learning opportunities in mind, including teaching the West African context pre-slavery; using individual stories of named people to lift the study of slavery away from the idea that enslaved people were simply an anonymous mass with no voice or agency; and demonstrating how a variety of endeavours can be instrumental in changing public opinion). The book features sensitive portraits and contextual drawings by debut award-winning illustrator Angela Vives, and is presented in a highly giftable and accessible format, giving life as a both a narrative-led story collection and as a resource for schools.