Black History Month Blog by Chloe Sinderby
Let’s take a look at some iconic Black Welsh Women to celebrate Black History Month.
October marks the start of Black History Month in the UK and it is a chance to celebrate and embrace black culture.
Black History Month serves as a reminder of those who played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Lives Matter Movement, the Mountgomery Bus Boycott, as well as many other movements that played a part in Black History. Black History Month is celebrated all over the world, including Wales, who is home to some very important black women.
In Girlguiding, we celebrate women of all cultures and backgrounds, but let’s dive deeper into some iconic black women who challenged social norms from little old Wales.
Chloe Sinderby - Girlguiding Cymru Communications and PR adviser
The Statue of Betty Campbell MBE in Cardiff
Betty Campbell MBE
Mount Stuart Primary school in Butetown, Cardiff was home to the first black headteacher in Wales. Betty Campbell, who was born in Butetown in 1934, had ambitions of being a teacher form a young age, studying at Lady Margaret High School for Girls in Cardiff and later going on to Cardiff Teacher Training College in the 1960s.
Betty Campbell was determined to spread awareness of black culture and added it to her curriculum to teach the pupils at her school about embracing black culture. Over the years, Betty Campbell went on to become a member of the Home Office’s race advisory committee as well as the Commission for Racial Equality, furthering her impact on diversity in Wales.
A statue of Betty Campbell was placed in Cardiff Central Square on 29 September 2021 to honour her after her death in 2017.
Dame Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey is arguably one of the most famous singers to come out of Wales. Born in Cardiff in 1937, Shirley Bassey is known for her impressive singing career spanning over 70 years.
She started by touring small local venues around Wales as young as 14 years of age but was launched into international success after recording the theme for James Bond Goldfinger in 1964. Her most popular hits include (Where Do I Begin) Love Story, Diamonds are forever (another Bond theme), and Never,Never,Never.
Shirley Bassey became the first Welsh artist to have a number one single in 1959 with her song As I Love You. Shirley Bassey became a Dame in 1999 for services to the performing arts.
Dame Shirley Bassey
Your hair is your crown by Jessica Dunrod
Jessica Dunrod
Born in Cardiff, Jessica Dunrod is believed to be the first Black children’s author born in Wales.
Jessica expresses her experiences of being Welsh and Black through her books and hopes to inspire young girls to embrace their natural qualities, much like in her first book Your Hair is your Crown which details the journey of a young girl called Hope who discovers that her afro has magical qualities.
Attending Cardiff university, Jessica graduated with a bachelor’s degree in translation as well as a master’s degree in translation studies. She speaks three languages in total, English, Greek and Spanish.
Jessica also regularly contributes to the Welsh curriculum via the Welsh Government and works as an Inclusive policy and Education consultant for Race Equality First among others. In 2021, Jessica launched Lily Translates, the first translation firm in the UK that is dedicated to translating children’s literature.
If you are looking to celebrate Black History Month within your unit, there are some Unit Meeting Activities for you to start with.
Hidden histories for Rainbows, Out of sight stories for Brownies, Celebrating sheroes for Guides and Unsung stories for Rangers.
These unit meeting activities help your young members learn and understand the importance of Black History Month as well as hearing stories about some very important Black women.