The Black History Challenge (BHC) is essentially an educational and scholarship programme designed to enhance the study of Black history.

Name the black woman who ran for President in the USA in 1972?

Which African man lived in London in 1789 and published a best-selling book in same year?

These and other questions will be asked the 100 Black Men of London's 4th inter-schools Black History Challenge (BHC), set to conclude on Saturday 3rd November, 1 - 5 PM at the unique Museum in Docklands.

The BHC is essentially an educational and scholarship program designed to enhance the study of the African Caribbean experience in the United Kingdom. There is an increasing recognition that the history of African people in Britain is an integral part of British history, and the popular events during BHM, demonstrate that African history is not only important to the African and African Caribbean Diaspora communities living in the UK, but a fundamental component of World history.  It is in this context the our organisation educates young people, children and parents about the importance of African and African Caribbean history through its various mentoring and education programmes e.g. 'The Me I Can Be' and Education Through Film (ETF).

Audrey Beckford, Education Consultant  and co-creator of the BHC, commented: "The Black History Challenge helps to raise the profile of the contributions and celebrate the success our ancestors have made towards creating the stable economic position that many of us take for granted today.  It provides an opportunity for families and their children to learn about their ancestors together, as well as to mitigate against the socialisation that African and African Caribbean children face in school that their sense of self should primarily begins with slavery".

We have used a variety of resources for the BHC over the years to educate young people about African history, but this year we will be exploring African history and the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade using a variety of learning interactive resources, including the When we ruled website, the National Archives online exhibitions and Slavery now and then edited by Danny Smith.

Donna Spencer Event Manager of the BHC stated "In the past we've found that students engaged in the study of their true history become more focused and motivated not just on the history challenge but across their academic subjects .

Tony Warner, Director of Education commented that "With the recent screening of Colour Telly TVs Black Doll/White Doll exercise where black children expressed dislike for themselves, it is paramount to get young people and those who've already been through the education system to recognise how they've been mis-educated on their history. Every single black leader from Garvey to Nkrumah to Malcom X to Cabral and Fanon have emphasised to need for  people to reclaim the history that was so viciously stolen from them."  

John Henrik Clarke's A Great and Mighty Walk, will be screened on the day, plus we will have a keynote speech by Paul Crooks, author of Ancestors on how to trace your ancestry http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~prcrooks/index.html

David Chen (journalist, broadcaster and entertainment correspondent) will be our guest competition master http://www.caribbeannetworking.com/ and guest judges include Arthur Torrington, secretary for the Equiano Society, Dr Gloria Gordon, author of Towards bicultural competence beyond black and white and Danny Smith, editor of Slavery now and then.

To attend please RSVP to bhc@100bmol.org.uk by 31st October titling the email 'Guest for BHC finals 2007'

For a list of our free educational films on history shows visit www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk

It is also intended to increase the interest of young people in knowing the legacy left them, and in living lives worthy of that legacy.

The aims of the BHC are to educate young people in schools and the wider community about the significant contributions black people in Britain have made in developing this country as a whole. The BHC is open to all London schools and youth organisations.

In light of the new Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, public bodies, including schools, have a duty to promote race equality which is documented in their Race Equality Schemes. The BHC is an excellent opportunity for schools to embrace, promote, acknowledge and appreciate the achievements of black people within the British community.

We are very excited about the impact the BHC will have on the children who participate and the wider community who we hope will share in some of the rich cultural heritage which is bound to be highlighted during this event.

Our hope is that this annual BHC will become an integral part of the Black History month calendar.

· The BHC itself and the rationale behind it
· How to enter the BHC,
· African-Caribbean, British history facts