On Thursday 18th October 2018, Gumley House School celebrated its annual Black History Festival with this year’s theme being “Black Herstory” which had been driven by these words by Maya Angelou: ’I am a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.’ This year’s celebration paid tribute to the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
The evening started with the student committee members walking down the aisles of the hall proudly displaying black woman who have down extraordinary things within their lives
The whole show was filled with inspirational songs, upbeat dances and emotive poems. There were also some delicious refreshments at the end to cool down from all the excitement. The evening left friends, family and teachers starstruck as students amazed them with their performances.
As a young black teenager living in London, I felt privileged to take part in a show like this. As one of the only secondary schools in Hounslow to celebrate an important part of the yearly calendar, it is important that as a community, we were able to show our diversity through our varied talents.
Not having much black history taught in school, especially about black women, has restricted a lot of young black girls to having heroes that they can not only look up to but inspire to be like them. I wish that I had the opportunity to have this show when I was younger to show me my roots and motivate me to do anything I want in life and that I can achieve it.
