Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne and today, I'm joined by
Rob. Hello, Rob!
Rob: Hello, Yvonne.
Yvonne: In the UK, we celebrate Black History Month each year. It's a time when
people from all cultures and backgrounds get a chance to learn about, share in
and celebrate the contributions that black people have made to UK and world
history. Well before we find out more about this annual or yearly event, I've a
question for you, Rob. How long has Black History Month been celebrated
here in the UK? Is it:
23 years
50 years or
52 years
Rob: Ummm – that's a tricky one. I think I'll say 23 years.
Yvonne: Hmmm - we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on!
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: Now every year, there's a rather heated debate about whether we should or
shouldn't spend an entire month on black history - something that's a part of
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
British history. Mia Morris is the owner of the UK's Black History Month
website and she shared her opinion on this:
Extract 1: Mia Morris
Ideally, we wouldn't need it; ideally, it would be all year round. But then say to people:
use the opportunity to explore more of your family and spend more time with your
family, finding out more about our very rich history.
Yvonne: Mia would prefer black history to be made available to everyone in Britain
throughout the year. As she put it, ideally, black history would last 'all year
round' - but as it doesn't…
Rob: …Mia thinks we should all see October as an opportunity, or a chance, to
spend more time with family, exploring, or finding out, more about our very
rich history, one that we all share, as it's British.
Yvonne: Unfortunately, some Black History Month events and schools still choose to
focus on negative events from history, for example, slavery. But now, there's a
wider variety of events available, including living history. Rob, can you tell us
what 'living history' is please?
Rob: Yes, of course. It's a more interactive way of learning about a specific event or
period of time in history than say, for example, simply looking at items in a
museum. That's a bit boring sometimes.
Yvonne: It is, isn't it? Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner, is
now a living museum, isn't it, Rob?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Rob: That's right. I've actually been there and it really is an amazing place. So we
can find out what everyday life was like for Nelson Mandela by going on a
guided tour of Robben Island that's led by an ex-political prisoner, who was
also held there.
Yvonne: Of course, living history is happening all around us, wherever we are. And
recently, at a Black History Month event, I spent the morning speaking with a
wonderful lady, who's a great example of living history. Irene Sinclair was
born in 1908 in Guyana, South America, which was then called British Guyana.
And she came to live in London in 1957.
Rob: My goodness. So Irene is 102 years old! Wow, you must have had so many
questions to ask her, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Too many, Rob, way too many, including questions about her working life. I
asked Aunty Rene how much she was paid in Guyana in 1957 where she
worked as an English and History teacher, before she came to London.
Extract 2: Irene Sinclair
It must have been about £10 a year. Yes, because when I came over here, I was working
for 4.99. I was 49 when I came over, nearly 50. 4.99 a week, £4.99 in 1958!
Rob: Irene would have been paid in pounds, shillings and pence, so she was telling
us what her pay would be worth today, £4.99. Now that doesn't sound like very
much money, but compared to the £10 a year she got as a teacher, it was.
Yvonne: £10 a year! She was an assistant cook at a school until age 62 and she became
a famous model at the age of 96!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Rob: Amazing!
Yvonne: You can look her up on the internet.
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: And of course, she's got a great love of children which lead her to another job.
Extract 3: Irene Sinclair
Six years ago, I looked after a baby six days old for about three weeks, because the
woman, she wasn't quite well after having the baby. And the doctor said she must have
someone in at nights so she could sleep. “Aunty Rene, would you?” Of course, they gave
me some money, but I wouldn’t take it as they would have had to pay someone £50 a
night – you know, a proper nurse.
Yvonne: So, at 96 years old, she was not only a model, but she also looked after a newborn
baby for friends at night for six weeks. And she didn't even take the
money they wanted to pay her.
Rob: Wow, Rene Sinclair really does sound like a wonderful piece of living black
history for the UK.
Yvonne: She does and Aunty Rene proves that Black History Month can be an amazing
experience simply based on the people you meet. Now earlier Rob, I asked you
how long ago did Black History Month in the UK start?
Rob: And I said 23 years. Was I right?
Yvonne: You were – ding-ding!!
Rob: Great!
