Black History Month

Published by St Columba's School, Kilmacolm on Wednesday 31st of December 2025

On Monday 27th October, Jasmine T (SVI) spoke at Senior School Assembly about the relevance of Black History Month, the amazing contributions made by Black people in society and what our anti-racism group – Kick It Out – are doing to encourage empathy and tolerance in our School community. You can read a transcript of her speech below.

I want to know just how many of you were aware that Black History Month was happening this month. In an ideal world, I would want it to be all of you, but I know that it’s unlikely. That is something that I feel needs to change, and it begins with you. 

Some might ask, why does Black History Month matter now, when it’s already over? I would answer that it’s more important because it’s over. So much of the world’s history couldn’t have been possible without the contributions of Black individuals that it should be a year-round celebration. It’s important that we recognise the advancements to society that have been made – and are being made now – by Black pioneers. 

Looking to the past, people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mary Jackson were pivotal in changing the course of history. MLK was the one of the most iconic leaders of the civil rights movement. He put himself at the forefront of the movement, preaching non-violence and equal rights for people of colour in the United States. He delivered what many would consider the greatest speech of all time, ‘I Have a Dream.’ His assassination would spur the Civil Rights Act into action, building the foundation for equality in America.  

Mary Jackson was one of the many Black women at NASA who experienced segregation and discrimination. Jackson was the first African-American woman to become an engineer at NASA and her work as a ‘human computer’ was crucial in America’s progress in the Space Race. Without her and her peers, there would be no man on the moon. Her career opened doors for the generations of Black women and women of colour in STEM to come after her. 

Black History is being made all around us, now more than ever. In the arts, Doechii has become the third woman to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album and Daniel Kaluuya has won a significant number of awards including 2 BAFTA’s, an Emmy and Golden Globe and is most known for his performance in the film ‘Get Out’.  

Adding to the list, actress Ayo Edebiri is the first Black woman to be a Chanel ambassador. Chanel is a brand which has unfortunate historical associations with racist ideas, with Coco Chanel herself having ties to the Nazi regime. Edebiri’s title as House Ambassador marks a huge shift in the world of fashion, where anyone can represent and own these luxury brands. The Met Gala theme for this year was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, an ode to Black dandyism and how it was used as an act of defiance against racism. It also highlighted a number of Black designers such as Bianca Saunders, born in London, and Nicholas Daley who is Scottish-Jamaican. 

It all goes to show how much Black history is being made, in every industry. Every Black person that is the first in their career, that branches out, is a pioneer. As a society we need to recognise this, because it’s not easy. But it gets easier with every acknowledgment, every award and every person that comes after. 

To celebrate this month, members of Kick It Out Club have devised a book list. It features books like The Colour Purple, If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Silk Roads. Poets like Benjamin Zephaniah feature on the list, tackling similar subjects. These books are here for you to get well read on not only racism, but antisemitism and sectarianism which seem to be rising beliefs at the moment. The books themselves can be found in Room 16. It is so important that we, as a community, reject these beliefs because there’s no place for them here. Victimising your peers has never been accepted here, and it never will be. Many of these books though are here to celebrate Black love and joy. It’s really important to remember that Black people and people of colour are not important because of their struggles.  

As a Gold Rights Respecting school, in both the Senior and Junior school, it’s up to us to set an example and make it known that there’s no place for racist behaviour or language here. We need to work to uphold Rights of the Child like Article 2, which states that every child should be protected from discrimination and Article 30, that says any child belonging to a minority should be able to enjoy their own culture. 

In fact, our school and its growing diversity should be celebrated. Multiculturalism has brought so many things to our school. To start, our International Day and our new Heritage Flag that’s set to be framed and put up in the school. It is a collection of flags that represent where each pupil is from. The Heritage Flag is a symbol of acceptance in the school. By recognising how many different cultures are in our community, we can move forward into being more accepting and inclusive, building a safe space for all of us to grow up in. Culture is a very personal thing, and that shouldn’t be ridiculed or marginalised.  

When I was writing this, I wanted it to focus on the people preaching anti-immigration, like Reform UK. But when I took a step back, I realised that this month wasn’t about Nigel Farage, so why should I legitimise his views by talking about him today? The best thing I could do was talk about all these breakthroughs in society that wouldn’t be possible without immigration. The Cold War wouldn’t have ended when it did, the COVID vaccine wouldn’t have been developed as quick as it was and 20% of the NHS’ workforce would disappear. Without immigration, I wouldn’t even be here, talking to you now. 

About a month ago, you may have seen anti-immigration protests take place in Glasgow. This hit closer to home than last year, and I know a lot of you feel the same. To have a city so close to me, suddenly target my family and me, is scary to say the least. The facts that many of these people were building their protest off were baseless and based off of stereotypes and intolerance. Immigrants are not the cause of high tax, high cost of living and job scarcity. Every time you entertain these narratives, it only drives communities further apart. There is no place for anyone here to be made to feel as though they are ‘other.’ 

Finally, if you ever need a space to talk about issues you’re facing, or to support others, Kick It Out runs every Monday lunchtime in Room 16.  

We have a responsibility as a community to challenge these beliefs by asking ourselves the hard questions. Am I judging someone based on stereotypes? Are my opinions based on fact? Am I in the wrong? 

Thank you.