1. BLACK AND ASIAN HISTORY MONTH 2008 The following people have made major contributions to our history, despite facing extreme racial prejudice

2. Who freed the slaves? The textbooks which your parents and grandparents used would have told you that the slave trade was abolished because of white campaigners such as: William Wilberforce Granville Sharp Thomas Clarkson

3. However, many black people were just as influential: Olaudah Equiano Ottobah Cugoano Toussaint L’Ouverture

4. Who developed a vaccine for smallpox? Most people think it was Edward Jenner in 1795: An African slave, named Oneissimus, developed a vaccine in 1706. But because of racial prejudice very few people know of his achievement.

5. Many Black and Asian people have fought for the British Army. We rarely see them in the photographs and pictures though. “It is nothing short of a miracle…which has called men from the ends of the earth to fight for our country.” (From a speech by Winston Churchill)

6. Khudadad Khan He served in the British Army during the First World War. He held up the German advance by continuing to man his machine gun while injured. He was the first Indian soldier to receive the Victoria Cross. This is awarded to soldiers who show the highest level of bravery and courage during battle.

7. WALTER TULL (1888-1918) Became the second black professional footballer in 1908.

8. By 1914 Glasgow Rangers were trying to sign him, however war broke out before he could join them. Tull immediately abandoned his career and offered his services to the British Army.

9. The army were so impressed with Tull, that he was sent to officer training school.

10. This happened even though army rules forbade "any person of colour" being an officer. Tull received his promotion in 1917. Tull was the first ever black officer in the British Army.

11. On 25th March, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull led his men on an attack on the German trenches. Soon after entering No Man’s Land Tull was hit by a German bullet.

12. Tull was so popular that several of his men made valiant efforts, under heavy fire, to bring him back to the British trenches. These efforts were in vain as Tull had died soon after being hit. His body was never found.

13. “EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD” Nelson Mandela