Black History Month 2024: Dr Stuart Lawrence talks to King's Pupil Leader

Pupil leader and African Caribbean Society member, Otis (U6Mac1) had the chance to lead a Q&A with The Right Honourable Dr Stuart Lawrence which was filmed and used as part of this year's Black History Month activities at King's.

The film was shared with tutor groups across the senior school, and served as a jumping off point for discussions around this year's theme, 'Reclaiming Narratives'. Dr Lawrence gave a compelling argument as to why marking Black History Month is important for our society, sharing his view that telling the stories of those who were victimised allows everyone to know how it feels to be persecuted. He also emphasised the need for each of us to check the assumptions we make about one another, and urged viewers to be 'curious of mind' in approaching the subject of Black history - and the world generally - in order that we all become 'better people'. 

Dr Lawrence provided some helpful recommendations of resources pupils can explore to help them gain a more comprehensive understanding of issues around racial identity and society. These included Judas and the Black Messiah, Alexander McQueen's The Small Axe series and the TED talk, 'The Single Story Narrative'. The full interview is available to watch online.