History Through the Black Experience – BHM resource

December 4, 2024

A book by Simon Hudson, told through two volumes, bringing the Black narrative, the Black experience, and Black contributions, positive and negative, to a wider audience.

About the book

Black people have always been part of the historical narrative. We have had successes and failures, pain and pleasures, achievements and loss, adventure, invention and innovation, creativity and wisdom. We had and have Kings and Queens, chiefs and politicians, scientists, engineers, explorers, writers, singers, dancers, artists indeed we have always been present in the human story. These books shine a light on stories of courage and achievement, often against incredible odds, capturing experiences from around the world from people of black heritage looking at the great, the good, the amazing, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.

These books bring the Black narrative to the broadest possible audience. It is not just for one community but aims to draw all communities into an understanding, awareness and celebration of an underrepresented aspect of history. All hangs on what happened on this day throughout the year, the reader is encouraged to consume a daily dose of the Black story – the adventures, highs, lows, excitement, despair, challenges and the successes.

About the Author

Simon Hudson was born in Southampton on 24th February 1964; it was the day before Cassius Clay became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Born, just after midnight, to Jamaican parents, part of the Windrush generation, he was reported as the first baby born in the newly-founded city of Southampton.

He trained to be a teacher at King Alfred’s College (Winchester University) graduating with a B Ed in 1987. The following 32 years saw him teaching Religious Studies, all at the same school. Simon says he loved teaching but did not allow work to prohibit loves of travelling, literature, theatre, cinema, music (live and recorded), exhibitions and museums. Cowper’s “Variety’s the spice of life”, informed a passion for life coming together in work, research and writing to produce the book.

Simon says questions about his Blackness remain constant: “Who, what and why am I? Where and how do I fit in? All too often our stories have been downplayed, ignored, redacted, appropriated, often hidden. Where am I in this story? Investigating and researching took me on a journey of research to many countries, peoples, times and events. Some stories I found familiar. So much, too much, was worryingly new. I was forced to re-think ideas and alter perspectives. Achievements and successes were surprisingly numerous. Yet, too many, doors opened revealing; ugliness, horror, racism, prejudice and discrimination.”

The aim of the book is to bring the Black narrative, the Black experience, and Black contributions, positive and negative, to a wider audience. Each day one is encouraged to read; January 1st through to December 31st, to gain insight seeing the world through Black eyes and minds. Simon comments, “With two volumes, I still recognise that I have only begun to scratch the surface of our collective stories”.