Heroes of our Time

To Order Now or for more information or about Heroes of our Time Teachers Resource contact: [email protected] Tel: Level 7 Media 0207 005 0590 www.level7media.co.uk/heroes

Heroes of our Time Teachers Resource is fun, practical teachers hand book aimed at schools & educators who want to offer young people the opportunity to learn about African history and modern Black heroes .

Packed with information about heroes, past and present this new contemporary publication offers educators the opportunity to follow the step by step lessons plans, exercises and games to facilitate young people’s interest in a variety of African heroes from the Diaspora.

Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource promotes the achievements of people of colour particularly focusing on trail blazers and noted Africans who are the first in their field to have made recognisable achievements.

Heroes of our Time Teachers Resource is broken down into 8 sections; Politics & law, Education, Arts and Entertainment, Sport, Humanitarian, Literature, Business and Heroes and is crammed full of exciting information on heroes such as Barak Obama, Colin Powell, Gus John, Dorothy Dandridge, Tiger Woods, Kelly Holmes and many more.

Heroes of our Time Teachers ResourceA Black History resource for young people aged13-18years

With over 150 pages of exciting information this A4 booklet is designed to appeal to young people aged 13-18 years. Heroes of our Time Teachers Resource recognises that young people need accessible role models hence the inclusion of British born achievers as well as American success stories.

For Black History month and throughout the year this is a ‘must have’ resource for every educator and facilitator working with young people.

Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource is competitively priced at £75


That Wayne Hector is one of the Uk’s most successful songwriters with over 30 number 1 songs around the world. (Born 1970 in London)

That Sir Bill Morris was the first Black Leader of the British Trade Union (Born in 1939 in Jamaica)

Did you know?

That Baroness Valerie Amos is the first Black female cabinet minister and joint first black woman peer in the UK

That John Mercer Langston was the first Black man elected into the US congress (Born 1829 in America)

That 2face Ibidia is the first contemporary singer of African heritage to win an MTV award.

Don’t Call Me FlorenceThe Story of Mary Seacole

By Cherrelle Glave

Black Heroes of our Times present two exciting theatrical pieces created for young people aged 13—17 years celebrating Barack Obama’s fascinating journey to becoming the first Black President of the United States of America and Mary Seacole’s feisty quest to heal the sick and needy during the First World War.

Black Heroes of Our Time are excited to offer these two 20 minute theatre productions to schools, colleges, youth and community groups which promises to entertain, educate and promote an interest in the achievements of Black Heroes past and present.

Find Your Own Way & Calling for Change by Cherrelle Glave and Directed by Vernon Douglas is available for bookings to come to your school, club or centre during school time or in the evening.

In addition to this, teachers, facilitators and educators can also book the actor/tutors to lead a drama session with your class or group.

This performance and the additional Black Heroes of Our Time drama workshop is created to compliment the Black Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource pack: a fun practical teachers hand book aimed at schools and educators who want to offer young people the opportunity to learn about African history and modern Black heroes and is also available to purchase.

T h e a t r e P r o d u c t i o n

Obama: The Intangible DreamThe Story of Barack Obama’s journey to the White House

By Cherrelle Glave

Directed by Vernon Douglas

Colin PowellFirst African-American Appointed to the Position of 65th United States Secretary of StateFirst (and so far the only) African-American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of StaffB: 1937 - New York City, California, USA

Sir Bill Morris The First Black Leader of the British Trade Union

B: 1939 – Manchester, Jamaica

Kofi AnnanGhanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations

B: 1938 Kumasi, Ghana

Colin Luther Powell, KCB, MSC, is an American statesman and retired as a four-star general in the United States Army. He was well known for his tremendous popularity among the American people. He was the first African American appointed to the position of 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush. During his time within the military, Powell also served as National Security Advisor, as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holding the latter position during the Gulf War. He was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004. The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell’s successor. In 2007, Powell donated the maximum amount to John McCain’s campaign with his name listed as a possible running mate in 2008 for Republican nominee McCain’s presidential election bid however, on October 19, 2008, Powell declared his backing of Barack Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing “his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign’ additionally referring to Obama as a “transformational figure.”

Bill Morris, was general Secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union from 1992 to 2003, and the first black leader of a British trade union. Morris moved to the UK in 1954, finding work at a local car parts manufacturer, Hardy Spicer Engineering Ltd. Years later after serving on the TGWU General Executive Council from 1972 to 1973, Morris joined the union as a full-time official. Morris was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2002 and received a knighthood in the 2003 Queen’s birthday honours list. In 2006, it was publicised that Morris would take a seat in the House of Lords as a working life peer, and he was styled as Baron Morris of Handsworth. Bill Morris is also an independent Non-executive Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board. He is currently a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the TUC General Council, the advisory committee of The Prince’s Youth Business Trust, the Trustee Board of the Open University Foundation, the Governing Council of Atlantic College, the Courts of Nene College and Luton University, and the Board of Governors of South Bank University. His most recent appointment is as a non-executive Director of the Bank of England. He is a Fellow of the RSA and the City and Guilds of London Institute and he holds honorary degrees from a number of British universities.

Kofi Atta Annan, is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1 January 1997 to 1 January 2007. Annan and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. In 1958, Annan began studying for a degree in economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology, now the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology of Ghana. In 1961 he received a Ford Foundation grant enabling him to complete his undergraduate studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States before completing a DEA degree in International Relations at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He also completed degrees In Science and Management and Is fluent in French, English, Kru, other dialects of Akan and other African Languages. Kofi Annan was appointed the Chancellor of the University of Ghana in 2008 and has signed up to be one of the Counsellors at One Young World; a non-profit organisation which hopes to bring together 1500 young global leaders, from every country in the world, that will be the leaders of tomorrow. Annan is clearly a intelligent, hardworking and determined individual determined to make a difference to the politics of the world and earlier this year joined the new programme at Columbia University as one of the first group of Global Fellows.

Naomi CampbellFirst Black Cover Model of British and French Vogue

B.1970 - Streatham, London, UK

Edwin HawkinsOne of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound

B: 1943 - Oakland, California

Campbell’s first public appearance came aged 7 in February 1978 when she was cast as a pupil to appear in a music video for Bob Marley’s song ‘Is This Love ‘, In 1982, she appeared in another music video, this time as a tap dancer for Culture’s Club’s ‘Ill Tumble 4 Ya’. In December 1987 she made history as the first black model to grace the cover of British Vogue, followed by her appearance on the cover of French Vogue in August 1988, as their first ever black cover girl.In addition to these Campbell also became the first black model to appear on the cover of Vogue Nippon and Time magazine. Naomi’s success was not without its struggles. When Naomi’s career was beginning black faces were still a rarity in the fashion world and it is said that as late as 1987 Christy Turlington supposedly told D&G representatives that ‘if you don’t book Naomi you don’t get us’. ‘Us’ referred to Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista the biggest models working at the time. Naomi later joined them and the ‘Big Six’, as the supermodels came to be known, ruled the fashion scene in the early 90’s. Since 1997, Campbell has been involved in charity work mainly focused on the children and people of Sub-Saharan Africa. She has worked with Nelson Mandela, and has said that one of her greatest joys in life is knowing Mandela, stating that his kindness, passion and intelligence make him a modern world leader. In 2005, she helped create and participated in Fashion Relief, raising over a million dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims. On 7 July 2007 she hosted the South African leg of the Live Earth in Johannesburg.

Edwin Hawkins (born 18 August 1943, Oakland, California) is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir leader, composer and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. Hawkins (and the Edwin Hawkins Singers) are best known for his arrangement of “Oh Happy Day” (1968-69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list. At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family’s gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir, which included almost 50 members. This ensemble recorded its first album ‘Let Us Go into the House of the Lord’ at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California, hoping to sell 500 copies. “Oh Happy Day” was just one of the eight songs on the album. When radio stations at the San Francisco Bay area started playing ‘Oh Happy Day’, it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Combs Morrison, the subsequently released single rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making US #4 and UK #2 in 1969. It then became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it

Dandridge started her performance career as part of a song-and-dance act with her sister Vivian named the ‘The Wonder Children’.Her early roles in films were all as parts depicting stereotypical views of African Americans. It was not until her role in Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones, a film version of the opera Carmon, that Dandridge’s talent was noticed. The film made $60 000 in its first week of release and made Dandridge only the third Black performer to be nominated for the academy award and the first for Best Actress.Dandridge’s voice was replaced by soprano opera singer Marilyn Horne and the Oscar was awarded to Grace Kelly for her role in ‘The Country Girl.’Thanks to the success of Carmon, wonderful things were expected of Dandridge but personal struggles, debt and a lack of suitable roles stunted her career. It is said that she turned down a part in ‘The King and I’ even though it was a supporting role because she refused to play a slave.In September of 1965 Dandridge was found dead by her manager and was later revealed to have died by accidental overdose. Dandridge’s contribution to Black film was a successful step toward more accurate representations of black characters. When Hallie Berry won her Academy Award Dandridge was one of the actresses she dedicated the moment to.

Dorothy DandridgeFirst Black Actress to be Nominated for an Academy award for Best Actress

B: 1922 - Ohio, USA D: 1965

Francis WilliamsThe First Black Student at Cambridge University.

B: 1702 – Kingston, Jamaica D: 1770

Dame Jocelyn BarrowThe First Black Female Governor of the BBC

B: 1929- Trinidad

Moira Stuart OBEThe First Black Female Newsreader on British TV

B: 1949 –Hampstead,

London, UK

When Francis was alive slavery was extensive and the common belief was that black people were unable to be educated the same way as white people. Society thought that black people were stupid and to try and teach them would be futile.The Duke of Montagu, who lived in Jamaica, decided to conduct an experiment; to prove a black man was as intellectually capable as a white man. He chose the son of a family of free blacks; Francis Williams.The duke sent Williams to England to begin his private education and eventually Williams entered Cambridge University. While at Cambridge he studied Latin and literature, mathematics and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Williams contradicted the ideas that black people could not be smart. Surprisingly for the time Williams became rather accepted and gained famed for his ballad 'Welcome, Welcome, Brother Debtor'. The popularity of the ballad was so high that minor composers tried to take the credit for it.Despite his English success and the knowledge that he would be treated with less acceptance if he returned to Jamaica, Williams longed to return home. Williams left for Jamaica with hopes of requiring a seat in the government but the white officials rejected him. In 1735 Williams had become a scholar and had set up a school to teach mathematics, Latin and literature in Spanish Town Jamaica. Ironically, those officials would not let Williams into government but were willing to send their children to his school. Williams worked hard and did much to silence the ignorant views of his society and his portrait hangs in the Victoria and Albert Museum today.

Dame Jocelyn Barrow was a founding member and general secretary of the ‘Campaign Against Racial Discrimination,’ the same establishment responsible for introducing the Race Relations legislation of 1968. She also led the introduction of multi-cultural education putting importance on the needs of the various ethnic groups in the UK. She was the first Black female Governor of the BBC and also the Founder and Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Council. Her strive for equal opportunities and her strong academic background is clearly reflected in her many government appointments to a variety of organisations and statutory bodies such as; Governor of the Commonwealth Institute for eight years, Council Member of Goldsmiths College, University of London, Vice-president of the United Nations Association in the United Kingdom, Trustee to the Irene Taylor Trust providing Music in Prisons, and National Vice-President of the Townswomen’s Guild. She was instrumental in the establishment of the North Atlantic Slavery Gallery and the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool. She was a Trustee of the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside and a Governor of the Institute. In 1972 she was awarded an OBE for work in the field of education and community relations later followed by a DBE for her work in broadcasting and her contribution to the work of the European Union as the UK Member of the Social Economic Committee, in 1992.

Since becoming the First female with black skin to grace British Television In 1981, Moira Stuart has becoming one of the most recognisable faces in broadcasting.

During her long career Stuart has presented every type of news in the UK, including News after Noon, The Early Evening News, The Nine O’Clock News, The Weekend News, The Six O’’CLock News as well as The Politics Show.

She was voted ‘Best Newscaster of the Year’ in 1988 by the TV and Radio Industries Club Awards and in 1989 ‘Best TV Personality by the Women of Achievement Awards. ‘The Black Journalists Association named her ‘Best Female TV Personality’ in 1994, and in 1997 ‘Best Media Personality’ by the Voice newspaper.

In 2000, Stuart joined the BBC Breakfast Team for the programme’s launch and a year later received an OBE in the Queens Honours.

On 16 November 2007, she visited Mill Hill School in Ripley, Derbyshire to officially open the new school building alongside Councillor Alan Charles from Derbyshire County Council.

Don’t Call Me Florence & Obama: The Intangible Dream 2x 20 min plays Written by Cherrelle Glave Don’t Call Me Florence & Obama: The Intangible Dream 1 hour drama workshop

Black Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource

Black Heroes of Our Time book

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Please do not hesitate to call and discuss your booking further. We are happy to negotiate with you if you intend to purchase more than one of the above options.

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Booking form1) I would like to book the Black Heroes of Our Time performance of Find Your Own Way & Calling for Change

by Cherrelle Glave (Running time of performance 40 minutes in total)

2) I would like to book the Black Heroes of Our Time performance of Find Your Own Way & Calling for Change by Cherrelle Glave & the drama workshop.

(Running time of performance 40 minutes in total Drama workshop 1hr)

3) I would like to book the Black Heroes of Our Time performance of Find Your Own Way & Calling for Change by Cherrelle Glave including the drama workshop. I would also like to purchase a copy of Black Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource at a special reduced rate.

(Running time of performance & Drama workshop 1hr 40 minutes)

4) I would like to order a copy of Black Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource.

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Cheques made payable to Opulence publishing Ltd Account details: Acc No. 06050163 Sort Code 12-09-49To Discuss your order further: Contact Seven Media: 0207 005 0590, [email protected] www.level7media.co.uk/heroes

POLITICS & LAW8 POLITICS & LAW 9

Baroness Valerie AmosThe First Black Female Cabinet Minister and Joint First Black Woman Peer

B: 1954 - Georgetown, Guyana

Baroness Scotland The First Black Female Attorney General

B: 1955 - Commonwealth of Dominica

Bernard Grant MPOne of Britain’s First Black MPs

B: 1944 - Georgetown, Guyana D: 2000

Colin PowellFirst African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

B: 1937 - New York City, California, USA

Constance BriscoeOne of Britain’s First Black Female Recorders

B: 1957

Dame Linda DobbsThe First Black Judge Appointed To the High Courts of Justice

B: 1951

Dawn Butler MP The first Black Female Minister in the House of Commons

B: 1969- London, UK

Baroness Valerie Amos was created a life peer in 1997. She is a British Labour Party politician and life peer, formerly serving as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. When she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development on 12 May 2003, following the resignation of Clare Short, she became the �rst black woman to sit in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. A distinctive element of Baroness Amos’ political career is that she has never actually been elected to any public o�ce as every o�ce held has been

an unelected appointment. Following positions in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services in local government in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Camden and Hackney, she became Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission 1989–94. After resigning from the cabinet, Baroness Amos took up a directorship with Travant Capital, a Nigerian private equity fund launched in 2007 and is involved with the 2012 Olympic Committee.

In 1999, Scotland was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth O�ce. She was responsible for introducing the Bill to ratify the International Criminal Court in the United Kingdom. She also set up a panel of British-based lawyers who provided pro bono services to UK nationals imprisoned overseas. In 2001 she became Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor’s Department, and was made a member of the Privy Council. Scotland was a contender for a

cabinet position at a time when Tony Blair is reported to have considered appointing her Leader of the House of Lords. In 2003, Lady Scotland of Asthal, as she is also known, was made Minister of State for the Criminal Justice system and Law Reform at the Home O�ce. On 28 June 2007, Baroness Scotland was appointed Attorney General by the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. She is the �rst woman to hold the o�ce since its foundation in 1315.

Bernard Grant was one of many West Indians who took up the British government’s invitation to the colonies to move to the UK for blue-collar employment in 1963. He was for a period a member of the Socialist Labour League. He quickly became a trade union o�cial, and moved into politics, becoming a Labour councilor in the London Borough of Haringey in 1978. As council leader during the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985, in which a policeman, PC Blakelock, was killed, he was thrown into the public eye, when he was widely quoted as saying “The police got

a bloody good hiding”. Grant claimed had been taken out of context, but o�ered an apology to the family of PC Blakelock. The controversy did not prevent him from becoming MP for Tottenham in the 1987 election, one of only three black MPs at the time. As an MP he backed demands for black sections in the Labour and was recognised as a staunch voice against Police racism. In September 2007 in Tottenham, London, Haringey Council opened the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in his name.

Colin Luther Powell, KCB, MSC, is an American statesman and retired as a four-star general in the United States Army. He was well known for his tremendous popularity among the American people. He was the �rst African American appointed to the position of 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush. During his time within the military, Powell also served as National Security Advisor, as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces Command and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Sta�, holding the latter position during the Gulf War. He was the �rst, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs

of Sta�. Colin Powell announced his resignation as Secretary of State on Monday, November 15, 2004. The following day, George W. Bush nominated National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as Powell’s successor. In 2007, Powell donated the maximum amount to John McCain’s campaign with his name listed as a possible running mate in 2008 for Republican nominee McCain’s presidential election bid however, on October 19, 2008, Powell declared his backing of Barack Obama during a Meet the Press interview, citing “his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign’ additionally referring to Obama as a “transformational �gure.”

Dobbs’ mother was from Sierra Leone, and her father was an English lawyer who became a High Court judge in Sierra Leone. She studied Linguistic and Regional Studies (Russian and Law) at the University of Surrey, graduating with a BSc in 1976. She received an LLM from the London School of Economics, and a PhD for research on criminology and penology in the Soviet Union. Dame Linda Penelope Dobbs was the �rst non-white person to be assigned as judge of the High Court of justice of England and Wales. She was appointed a High Court Judge in September

2004. She received a DBE, and was assigned Queen Bench Division, the Administrative Court, and the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. At the time of the appointment, Dobbs said: “It is a great honour to have been invited by the Lord Chancellor to become a High Court Judge… I am con�dent, nevertheless, that I am the �rst of many to come”. She has subsequently been appointed as Chairman of the Magisterial Committee of the Judicial Studies Board.

Barrister Constance Briscoe was one of six children born to two Jamaicans who settled in the UK in the 1950s. Briscoe studied Law at the University of Newcastle, �nancing her studies through various weekend and holiday jobs including working at a hospice with the terminally ill. After completing her MA at the University of Warwick she was called to the Bar in 1983, and became a Recorder, a part time

judge in 1996 - one of the �rst black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Briscoe’s legal practice focuses on criminal law and fraud, principally defending. She is also known for her books ‘Ugly’ and ‘Beyond Ugly’ in which she recounts tales of abuse as a child and she often talks about her experiences publicly.

Dawn Petula Butler is a British Labour politician, Member of Parliament for Brent South and an Assistant Chief Whip for Gordon Brown’s government. She worked as a GMB Union O�cer, including time as a national race and equality o�cer. She was also an advisor to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone on employment and social issues. She is the �rst Black female minister in the House of Commons. She was born in London into a large family of Jamaican immigrant parentage with a sister and four brothers. She has said, “It is important to me that government is re�ective of our diverse community and ordinary hard working individuals are given the opportunity to have their voices heard.” Interest in youth services has continued as one of her main interests in Parliament. On 24 October 2006 she was appointed Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Youth A�airs, and she is an Honorary Vice President of the British Youth Council. After Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, on 27 June 2007, Butler was made one of the Labour Party’s six Vice Chairs, with particular responsibility for Youth issues.

She was appointed to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons shortly after her election, and has also served on standing committees (notably on the Violent Crime Reduction Bill 2006). In November 2007 she was appointed to the Children & Families Select Committee. Earlier (in November 2005), she had been promoted to Parliamentary Private Secretary to the health minister Jane Kennedy, but decided to stand down from this post in early 2006. On 6 November 2007, Butler was chosen to second the Queen’s Speech. Her voting record shows she has largely been loyal to the government. She was promoted to Assistant Whip on 12 September 2008.

A Seven Media Publication

2009 - 2010 Edition

Heroes of Our Time is an exciting informative, publication highlighting the achievements of people of African descent. Published by Seven Media this unique Glossy A4 historical book promotes the achievements of people of colour particularly focusing on trail blazers and noted people who are the first in their field to have made recognisable achievements within government, the arts, business, industry and community sectors.

Heroes of Our Time is a fantastic educational tool for teachers in schools, colleges, youth workers and other educationalist with pages and pages of facts and figures detailing the lives and achievements of Black people that have often gone undocumented.

Heroes of Our Time is particularly accessible to young people as it celebrates not only the African American achievers like Martin Luther King and Alice Walker but also home grown talent like Bill Morris and Kwame Kwei-Armah highlighting rappers, entrepreneurs and community activists.

The whole family as well as educationalist will find this important publication invaluable during Black History Month and throughout the year and as an inspiration to all especially young people. For added value we have available a seperate teachers resource crammed pack with exercises and activities to help you get the best out of Heroes of Our Time. Heroes of Our Time is already fast becoming an essential addition to all the family and Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource is a ‘must have’ feature in all teachers’ and educationalists toolkit.

Heroes of Our Time £25Heroes of Our Time Teachers Resource £95


Heroes of our Time

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