The death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020 sparked last summer’s wave of Black Lives Matter protests. The trial of the police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck opened on 29 March in Minnesota. Police were called after George Floyd bought a packet of cigarettes in a convenience story. … Continue reading “Seeking Justice for George Floyd”
It’s the traditional time of year for dictionary publishers to announce their “word of the year”. In a year dominated by the pandemic, Oxford Dictionaries decided to choose several, whereas Collins chose “lockdown” from a shortlist dominated by the health emergency. Merriam Webster in the States went with the word “pandemic” itself. Frequently-used words this … Continue reading “2020: A Year in Language”
To celebrate Black History Month 2020, the British Post Office painted some of its iconic red post boxes black and adorned them with the portraits and stories of notable black Britons. The boxes show biographical information about the person featured, and passers by can scan a code to access a Black History Month gallery of … Continue reading “Painting the Town Black”
Lors de la reprise des cours en présentiel début juin 2020, le défi a été de poursuivre le travail ensemble selon de nouvelles modalités, à savoir en présentiel pour certains élèves et en distanciel pour d’autres élèves. Continuité des outils numériques connus et maîtrisés de tous J’ai abordé cette période inédite en optant pour une … Continue reading “Black Lives Matter : Travail collaboratif et éducation aux médias autour d’un sujet d’actualité”
WNBA star Maya Moore helped secure release for Jonathan Irons, who spent 23 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted. Three videos will allow you to discuss the case in class. They would make an excellent addition to Shine Bright LLCE File 12 Equality on Trial. The first is a short news report that covers … Continue reading “Winning Justice Videos”
The June 22 edition of The New Yorker has been released, and the illustrated cover is devoted to the history of violence inflicted on black people in the United States. Entitled ‘Say Their Names’, the powerful illustration features George Floyd, the US citizen recently killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. It shows his body … Continue reading “The latest New Yorker cover pays tribute to black lives lost”
Protests against racism and the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis have re-ignited demands in many places around the world to destroy or revise symbols of those who engaged in slavery, who were often honoured in their lifetimes and whose names and faces often remain in the public eye as statues, buildings or institutions. In … Continue reading “Symbols of Slavery”
Widespread protests have again broken out in the U.S.A. after the death of an African-American man in police custody. George Floyd, 46, was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 25 May on suspicion of passing forged money. During his arrest, a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, despite Mr Floyd protesting … Continue reading “His Life Mattered”
The Hate U Give (THUG for short) was published in 2017. The setting, events, and characters of this coming-of-age story are largely inspired by Thomas’s own life. It was a number-one New York Times Best Seller, made the 2017 National Book Award Longlist, and was adapted into a movie in 2018. The protagonist is Starr Carter, a … Continue reading “Book Notes: The Hate U Give”
The Hate U Give is a bestselling young-adult novel and now a new film. The carefully nuanced novel, written in part from experience by young African-American author Angie Thomas, gives a fascinating insight into the life of a teenager caught between two worlds: the mostly black neighbourhood where she lives and the mostly white private … Continue reading “The Hate U Give”