5 Iconic Black British Women In History You Should Know About.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re sharing 5 iconic Black British women who lived inspiring lives and left powerful legacies. At The Black Curriculum, we believe that teaching Black British histories are vital to helping empower students and providing them with a sense of identity and belonging.

The animations below give us a glimpse of their stories, and are perfect learning resources for KS2/KS3! While learning about our chosen iconic Black British women, have a think about which, if any, Black British women you learned about in school.

1. Fanny Eaton (1835-1924), coined as one of the earliest icons of black and mixed-heritage, beauty and elegance in England.

2. Lilian Bader (1918-2015), a woman whose work and legacy has allowed us to appreciate the important role of women and Black and Asian servers during WW2.

3. Mary Seacole (1805-1881), a pioneer nurse and heroine who risked her life for others whilst overcoming the prejudice faced as a mixed-race woman in Britain.

4. Olive Morris (1952-1979), a community leader and activist, who mobilised groups to ensure quality access to education and housing rights.

5. Mary Prince (1788-1833), author & abolitionist whose text offered an often undocumented glimpse into the lives of enslaved men and women.

For more educational resources on Black British History, visit our learning resources page.