The African-Caribbean Educational Resource Project
Len Garrison, ACER, and the British education system
Len Garrison founded the African-Caribbean Educational Resource (ACER) in 1977 after campaigning for two years for funding and resources with the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).
Drawing of Len Garrison (1991) by Gordon de la MotheBlack Cultural Archives
Garrison had completed a diploma in development studies at Ruskin College, Oxford in 1971. His dissertation was about the Rastafarianism movement in Jamaica. This is a later publication examining the issues around young Rastafarians and identity in Britain.
Black Youth Rastafarianism and the Identity crisis in Britain (1978) by Len GarrisonBlack Cultural Archives
It was beautifully illustrated by Ras Daniel Heartman & Everton Gordon.
Images and reflections, section one: Image and Identity (1979) by African Caribbean Education Resource ProjectBlack Cultural Archives
ACER was set up to provide educational resources for schools in Britain who had no materials or textbooks that related to the African and Caribbean pupils.
Images and Reflections, section four: 'SUS' the Black child and the law Images and Reflections, section four: 'SUS' the Black child and the law (1979) by Len GarrisonBlack Cultural Archives
Many journals were published for teachers. This gave them with the resources to provide a broad reaching education that encompassed the backgrounds of all their pupils and in turn, to help them counter racism.
Many journals were published for teachers. This gave them with the resources to provide a broad reaching education that encompassed the backgrounds of all their pupils and in turn, to help them counter racism.
There was insight into how black children were discriminated against by people in authority. These pamphlets raised the awareness of teachers, who would otherwise have been unaware of the discrimination faced by their pupils.
ACER though supported by the Inner London Education Authority, had a reach across the UK with the printed materials they produced.
ACER also ran the Black Youth Annual Penmanship Awards. A number of black professionals including music critic Clive Davis, and novelist and barrister Nicola Williams, received the award in their youth.
The ILEA was dismantled in 1988 and ACER closed due to lack of funding. ACER's legacy can be seen today in black history being part of the mainstream British educational curriculum and its work has inspired the Dutch to develop similar multi-cultural learning.
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