Thread by @WKGS_History

🧵 This month is #BlackHistoryMonth We make it a priority in the history department to celebrate diverse histories throughout the year. Here’s a short thread of some of the individuals and topics students encounter at KS3

Sundiata Keita, the first ruler of the Mali Empire in the 13th Century. He was disabled as a boy, but it is said that he had incredible willpower and wanted to walk like the other boys in his father’s chiefdom.

Mansa Musa, thought to be the richest man in history. Head of the Mali Empire in the in the 14th Century.

John Blanke, a trumpeter in the court of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He successfully secured a pay rise from Henry VIII and records suggest he bought him a wedding present

Mary Fillis, a successful and popular seamstress from Morocco, who lived in Tudor England.

Diego, a Cimaroon, who accompanied Francis Drake on his circumnavigation voyage of 1577-80.

The Kingdom of Benin, looking locally at the World Cultures Gallery @NML_Muse. Why curators are rethinking this exhibition and what this tells us about West African history. The beautiful bronzes and artwork

The role of Liverpool in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Abel, the first recorded Black citizen of the city. He died in 1717 and is buried in St Nicholas’ Churchyard.

Success Rebellion in Demara. Lead by Jack Gladstone against plantation owner John Gladstone and its role in abolition.

Nanny of the Maroons, a formally enslaved woman, who trained her tribe in guerrilla warfare against the British in the 18th Century.

"Sally" Bassett was an enslaved mixed-race woman from Bermuda. She was declared guilty and burned at the stake in June 1730 for the poisoning those who were enslaving her.

William Cuffay, a prominent Chartists leader and campaigner for workers rights in the 19th Century.

Walter Tull, one of the first black footballers and First World War soldier.

The pulling down of Huskisson’s statue in 1981, by black residents of Liverpool during the Toxteth protests (due to his strong links with enslavement)

Next week we’ll post some reading recommendations 📖