Black History Month 2012

October is Black history month and to celebrate it young people from Lambeth and Southwark got together to produce images based on 6 people in history who have achieved excellence through hard work and commitment to Justice and Equality.
The images painted were of Mary Seacole, Wangari Muta Maathai, Cynthia Mckinney, Nelson Mandela, Benjamin banneker and Marcus Garvey. 

 Mary Jane Seacole ( 1805-1881)

 and her portrait

 Wangari Muta Maathai ( 1940-2011)

 Alina paints Wangari

 Congresswoman Cynthia Ann Mckinney

 Nicholas and friend paint Cynthia Mckinney, SW9

 Nelson Mandela

 Sylvia paints Nelson Mandela

 Tlah on Nelson Mandela

 R.A paints Nelson Mandela

 Benjamin Banneker ( 1731-1806)

 Dexter paints Benjamin Banneker

 Marcus Mosiah Garvey,Jr ( 1887-1940)

 Dexter paints Marcus Garvey

More amazing Black History at the British Museum.

Mary Jane Seacole (1805-1881) was a Jamaican nurse who was best known for her involvement in the Crimean War. She set up and operated boarding houses in Panama and the Crimea to assist in her desire to treat the sick. She specialised in herbal remedies and folk medicine.

Wangari Muta Maathai ( 1940-2011) was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. In 2004 she became the first African woman to recieve the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Cynthia Mckinney ( born 1955) is an American polititian and activist. She has campaigned for the rights of Americans throughout her career and featured in the film ' American Blackout'. Described by many as outspoken she continues to highlight injustice around the world. She was the first African American woman to have represented Georgia in the United States House Of Representatives.

Nelson mandela ( born 1918) is a South African politician who served as president of South Africa from 1994 - 1999. He began his career as a lawyer and anti apartheid activist as well as being the leader and co founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He spent 27 years in Prison as a political prisoner and also recieved over 250 awards over four decades including the 1993 Nobel Peace prize.

Benjamin banneker ( 1731-1806) was a free African American scientist, surveyor, almanac author and farmer. Bannekers knowledge of astronomy also helped him author a commercially successful series of almanacs which he published from 1793 until 1797.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr, ( 1887-1940) was a jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponant of Black nationalism. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities league ( UNIA-ACL) and also the Black Star Linewhich was part of the Back to Africa movement.