News

London, 25th October 2023: Sky HISTORY and The Black Curriculum teamed up for this year's Black History Month to discover how much young people know about British Black history. The creative team at A+E Networks EMEA took over a Year 6 history lesson at Drayton Green Primary School, Ealing, and placed Fredi Nwaka and Cassie Anderson from The Black Curriculum as the teachers for the very special lesson. 

Together, they explored the Bristol Bus Boycott, Windrush, and Notting Hill Carnival and filmed the entire day, creating three 6- minute short films, each delving deeper into the history of these pivotal events. 

Additionally, the children at the school had the opportunity to interview our co-hosts, who shared their experiences of learning about Black history in school. They also shed light on The Black Curriculum's mission of #TBH365, which seeks to teach British Black history all year round, not just during Black History Month. 

Black to School is a crucial initiative in ensuring that young people have access to accurate and comprehensive information about the Black experience in Britain, which has been historically marginalised and often omitted from mainstream education.

Kenny Reynolds, VP of Creative at A+E Networks EMEA, said: ‘’This brilliant initiative, led by two junior members of the team, has created these lovely films for Sky HISTORY. Using the school lessons to tell fascinating stories that our viewers may have not heard before.’’

This collaboration between Sky HISTORY and The Black Curriculum was a significant step towards raising awareness about British Black history, empowering young people to learn about this important part of their country's past and informing the Sky History audience about stories they may not have heard.

Fredi Nwaka, award-winning British film Director, said: ‘’Working with young people is always satisfying and rewarding, but this project was particularly inspiring and definitely needed and insightful.’’

The Black To School lessons can be viewed on the dedicated hub celebrating Black History Month on Sky HISTORY’s website: https://www.history.co.uk/topics/black-history-month.

To donate, please go here:

https://theblackcurriculum.com/donate

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Fredi Nwaka 

Fredi Nwaka is an award-winning British film director, writer, producer, and ex-rapper. He started his career as a rapper, becoming the only British artist to sign with Grammy-nominated US rap group, The Wu-Tang Clan's label, Wu International. Away from his filmmaking achievements, Fredi works with schools and prisons to help young people stay away from a life of crime, a life he once knew, becoming a member of a South London gang as a teenager. https://www.fredinwaka.co.uk/

The Black Curriculum 

Founded in 2019 by Lavinya Stennett, The Black Curriculum is a social enterprise working to address the lack of Black British history in the national curriculum. They do this by going into schools (working with young people between 3 –25 years) and creating lesson plans and programmes to teach young people Black history, with a UK-centric focus. For more information, please head to: https://theblackcurriculum.com/

Sky HISTORY

Sky HISTORY is the flagship brand of the A+E Networks® EMEA portfolio which is made up of true crime channel Crime + Investigation®; Sky HISTORY2® and free to air channel BLAZE®. Sky HISTORY is available in the UK on Sky, Virgin and on streaming service NOW. www.SkyHistory.co.uk

A+E Networks EMEA

At A+E Networks EMEA, we share stories that matter everywhere, anywhere. A leader in factual entertainment, our compelling, award-winning content connects with millions across the UK, Nordics, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Our portfolio of premium brands – The HISTORY® Channel, Crime + Investigation®, HISTORY2®, BLAZE®, and COSMO TV® - inspire and excite viewers with hit franchises (Forged in Fire), must-see dramas (Vikings) and original commissions (The Hunt for Baltic Gold and Ross Kemp: Shipwreck Treasure Hunter). Our stories are global and local, linear and digital, and always compelling. With offices in London, Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, Munich, and Johannesburg, we are a truly international company that celebrates difference and diversity.