Black History Summit 2026 took place in Belfast’s Ulster Museum on October 23 under the banner of ‘Learning Together: Knowledge Changes Everything’.
With a big emphasis on the growing campaign to have Black history embedded in the everyday learning of students in Northern Ireland, it was four teenagers who made it one of our most memorable Summits yet.
TJ, Latifa, Jada and Cara’s powerful remarks and keen insights brought the audience to their feet and in one or two cases, to tears.
Jada, whose mother Beverly hails from Guyana, told the Summit how one teacher had told her they didn’t feel Black History Month was important enough to bring into the classroom.
“The curriculum does not include us whatsoever,” said the Foyle College student.
Cara, who attends St Ronan’s College in Lurgan, also stressed her desire for more balanced learning.
“I’ve never sat in a history lesson feeling unseen and no child should ever have to sit in a classroom and feel that their history doesn’t matter.
“Introducing Black history into teaching would lead to greater respect. It would allow people to really look at what is happening in the world.”
TJ, a student at St Columb’s College in Derry, has been part of the drive to have Black history added to the learning plan for the past six years.
He said to continually omit it from the curriculum was to deny pupils a full view of world history.
Latifa, whose parents moved to Derry after war broke out in their native Sudan, said there was an onus on those who set the curriculum to start recognising Northern Ireland’s growing multiculturalism.
Keynote speaker for the Summit was Ulster University Professor James Uhomoibhi. He said Black History Month was not just about remembering the past but about understanding the present and shaping the future.
Professor Uhomoibhi also highlighted the contribution Black people and Black communities have made globally yet how many of these scholars, inventors, sportspeople, entertainers and artists remain invisible.
Adding their voices to the call for Black history to be added to the daily teaching plan were researcher Dr Naomi Green and founder of the Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality Chantelle Lunt.
History teacher and President of the National Education Union NI Charlotte Carson also reiterated her opinion that there was a huge appetite among educators for a more diverse curriculum.
It was left to Dr Livingstone Thompson to reflect on the fascinating day of discussion and to outline what steps should be taken next by those in government in terms of introducing Black history to the educational curriculum.
The Summit was part of our Black Heritage in NI: Hidden History project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.