Black lives and black history resources

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Rosa Parks.

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Mary Seacole.

A framework for delivering an assembly based around Dr Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream...' speech.

A framework for delivering an assembly about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.

A collection of short films for primary schools, exploring the experiences and contributions of people from communities across the UK, and celebrating the rich contribution of the black community to the culture, society and economy of the UK.

The life of Victorian nurse Mary Seacole is told in three short video episodes aimed at 7-11 year-olds.

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee explore the inspirational lives and contributions of black writers, musicians, activists and more. Together with guest readers Angelica Bell and David Lammy, they explain how language is used in songs and speeches to inspire us, demonstrate the importance of proof-reading, and challenge pupils to write about their dreams for a better world.

This short film explains how Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus changed the rules of American society.

In this short drama Harriet Tubman explains how she escaped slavery and then helped others to do so.

A short film about the life and work of Pablo Fanque, a famous equestrian performer from the Victorian era.

Trailblazing composer Florence Price was the first black female to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Discover more about Florence and her music with BBC Ten Pieces.

Composer, sportsman, fashionista - Joseph Bologne was an 18th century superstar. Find out more about the man and his music with BBC Ten Pieces.

In this short audio clip we hear from a woman who remembers, as a girl, being taken by her father to hear Dr Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech.

What was the slave trade, how were slaves treated and how was it abolished?

In celebration of Black History Month, Oti Mabuse brings you a selection of Horrible Histories sketches and songs featuring Rosa Parks, Civil War spy Mary Bowser, pioneering boxer Bill Richmond, plus Mary Seacole and Martin Luther King Jr.

Horrible Histories charts the contribution of Black people to British life throughout history. How did African soldiers come to be guarding Hadrian’s Wall? Why was a West African diver asked to help salvage Henry VIII's ship, the Mary Rose? And the actor Ira Aldridge tells us how he came to leave New York to find fame in 19th-century England.

Children's series celebrating inspirational and history-making figures from the past 200 years.

Watch these dads and daughters discussing everything from Rosa Parks to the Jamaican football team together during Black History Month.

De-Graft Mensah presents a Newsround special all about fairness, protest and people coming together to reject racism.

De’Graft Mensah talks about his family’s Ghanaian heritage, how much it has influenced his own life and career, and how, when the cameras roll on every bulletin, he feels he also has another big job.

Twelve-year-old Luke is passionate about black history and wants people to realise how important it is. He reads black history books and has even written poetry about it. He wants the den to be built at his nan’s house so he can share it with all his cousins.

A collection of learning resources about race from BBC Scotland.

This short film for secondary schools examines how black children in the 1960s and 1970s were disproportionately sent to schools for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’.

This short film for secondary schools looks at the Black Power movement in the 1960s in the UK, surveying both the individuals and the cultural forces that defined the era.

Short educational films exploring the lives of London's West Indian community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, produced alongside the BBC One collection of films directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen. These films combine extracts from Steve McQueen's collection of films with archive and bespoke narration, to bring significant moments from recent black British history to life for students.

Sanjeev Bhaskar finds out how Dr Martin Luther King advanced the Civil Rights movement in America through non-violent resistance.

Sir Trevor McDonald reports on Nelson Mandela, who went from freedom fighter to become South Africa's first black president.

Three short films from a BBC documentary examining the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Exploring identity, diversity, institutional racism and justice.

John Agard explores and performs his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.

Teenager Elliott talks to his grandfather about his first impressions of London as an immigrant from Ghana and his grandmother about the racism they experienced because of their mixed race marriage.

In this series of short documentary-style films, historian David Olusoga explores new historical evidence of slavery in 1830s Britain.

Historian David Olusoga explores the enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Africa.

David Olusoga explores stories of colonial troops serving in World War One in these short films for secondary schools.

A series of short films in which historian David Olusoga investigates the lives and experiences of migrants to and from Britain throughout history.

Andrew Marr analyses 1860s America and the American Civil War, explaining how the conflict, and Abraham Lincoln, changed American history forever.

Howard Goodall explores the origins of blues music and ragtime and looks at how the invention of recorded music popularised folk and spiritual African American music.

Six key events in black history which you may have not heard of, as highlighted by Prof Kehinde Andrews, who teaches Black Studies at Birmingham City School of Social Sciences.

Director Akinola Davies unearths forgotten Black British histories in this visually compelling series.

Interviews with people who were there at key moments in black and civil rights history.

Fact-checkers from the BBC’s anti-disinformation team investigate viral posts on social media

Some of the lesser known episodes in black British history from BBC Newsbeat.

John Amaechi is a psychologist, a New York Times best-selling author and a former NBA basketball player. He talks about what it means to be anti-racist.

Paralympic champion Ade Adepitan explains that he lost the use of his legs as a result of childhood polio, but decided to become an athlete after becoming obsessed with the Olympic Games as a boy.

In her own words, Christine Ohuruogu tells the story of how she became a top athlete.

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock explains why being different is no barrier to success if you are passionate about something.

Meet Aiyshat Akanbi. She’s a determined, fashion-forward young stylist. In this short film we see her attention to detail and passion for fabric and colour put to good use, as we follow her at work designing ‘tour’ looks for her client, the rapper Labrinth.

Ronnie Ochero turned his childhood obsession of playing video games into a career, by making them. For Ronnie, it was a natural process to go from playing games to inventing them.

A humorous but important take on how people with afro hair feel then people ask them questions about their hair.

A collection of learning resources about race from BBC Scotland.