Every October, we mark Black History Month in the UK. It’s a time in which we’re encouraged to reflect on the Black presence in Britain, and to celebrate the contributions Black people have made and continue to make to our society. However, for many institutions and individuals, this month appears to have been business as usual.<\/p>\n
So far, we’ve seen a school banning<\/a> pupils from speaking Black British English, the mainstream media blaming drill music<\/a> for knife crime and a racist attack<\/a> on the Windrush memorial. Meanwhile disgraced former health secretary Matt Hancock<\/a> has been appointed as the United Nation’s special envoy to support coronavirus (Covid-19) recovery across the African continent.<\/p>\n Ark All Saints Academy, a secondary school in south London has banned<\/a> pupils from speaking in Black British English (BBE) – framed as ‘slang’ – in “formal learning settings”. Black British English<\/a> is a language in its own right, with a rich history of migration and resistance.<\/p>\n Grassroots organisation Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health (BLAM UK) responded to the school’s ban by saying:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By banning Black British English within a classroom setting, they are failing their legal duties to provide children with a broad and balanced education they are instead providing Black British Language speakers with a language education void of their culture and history.<\/p>\n — BLAM UK (@BLAMCharity) October 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nCriminalising the language\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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