ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 illustrated that history offers an important key to understanding the inequalities experienced by groups of people in society today. In order to understand the present position of black students within the British education system, it is necessary to examine the relationship that the British state has had with black people through history. Certain questions are central to such an examination. When, why and how did the contact between Britain and black people first begin? How did this contact develop? This chapter will outline some of the significant elements of the historical relationship between Britain and black people, taking into account the specific relationship between Britain and black women. In doing so, it will be clear that a substantial part of Britain's contact with black women, men and children has been based on slavery, indentured labour and colonialism, and that black people have made a major contribution towards the development of Britain. The history of the relationship between Britain and black people is rarely acknowledged and is generally hidden. Since the knowledge of black history is necessary for understanding black students, the unmasking of black history raises the question of how much of this history ought to be taught in schools.
