STANDING FIRM IN POWER AND PRIDE: BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED

24.10.2025

As we approach the end of Black History Month we are delighted to be announcing the winner of our Black History Month competition.

Throughout October our community has been celebrating Black History Month, a global event that celebrates the impact of black culture and individuals on the world we live in today. As part of this, we have explored powerful black individuals linked to subjects, hosted a black artist listening party, and also invited staff and students to join our black culture icon event, where staff and students shared more about the black icons who have inspired them.

All students were invited to join our Black History Month competition and produce a creative piece themed around ‘standing firm in power and pride’ and celebrate a black activist, event in history, black culture or an icon. Today we’re thrilled to announce Hannah I as the winner of this competition, and share the work of our runners up – please see the gallery below, including a poem.

Emily Briggs, Enrich Lead comments: “Black History Month is a celebration of the positive impact of black people throughout history, and is an opportunity to reflect on the huge challenges and injustices the black community has faced. We’ve been really inspired by the thoughtful submissions received, which reflect the thoughtful discussions that this month has generated in our community throughout October. We’d like to congratulate our winner and runners up on their fantastic submissions.”

Along with the poem by Lucas C below, the gallery shares the work from our winner Hannah I (painted canvas) and runners up Harriet K and Keriesha J.

Standing firm in power and pride:

From a small village in south Africa,

Where dust danced with dreams in the sun, Rose a boy with fire in his spirit, Whose battle for justice had just begun.

In chains he walked, yet stood so tall,

A voice for those denied their call.

Through prison walls and bitter years,

He held the hopes, the cries, the tears.

He led a nation from hate to embrace, Where vengeance once carved lines in face. He broke the chains not just of law, But of bitterness, grief, and ancient flaw. With hands once bound, he reached to heal, To teach the wounded how to feel.

No sword, no spite, no call for blame— Just truth and grace in freedom’s name. He stitched the torn with threads of peace, And let the storm of anger cease. From bloodied past to hopeful dawn, He proved that love can still be drawn.

He left the world in twilight’s grace, A quiet end, a giant’s place. December’s hush, the mourners came,

To whisper thanks beneath his name. But death could never dim his light, Nor silence truth, nor stall the fight.

His legacy walks in every street, Where justice dares and hope repeats. In classrooms, courts, and freedom’s song, His spirit guides the weak and strong. A father gone yet still embraced— In every soul that freedom chased.

Constant scrutiny and racial oppression,

Mandela faced constant aggression.

Forged in fire, yet chose the pen,

To heal a land and lead its men.

From chains to chair, his path was set,

South Africa’s first black president.