Teacher’s notes
Marvin Rees

Links to the National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 History

Students will gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between national and international history; between cultural, economic, and political history.

This lesson would easily fit into schemes of learning on the following topics:

● Political power, industry and empire.

● The modern History of Britain and the contribution that citizens of the British Empire made to its cultural and economic development

● Britain’s Transatlantic Slave Trade: its effects and legacy

● The lesson is also relevant to Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural SMSC development

This lesson follows the enquiry question:
Using poetry to make education more inclusive

Poem

Brother Marvin As we achieve through standing on the shoulder of all who stood before us

We must continue this legacy for all those who trusted as well as lost trust

Marvin Rees is one such person who had much to bear

After becoming Europe’s first African Caribbean Mayor

Marvin Rees was born in Bristol in 1972 at the height of the UK’s Sus Laws

When incarcerating African Caribbean men due to suspicion was a just cause

The signs in the windows that greeted Marvin’s father on his arrival had all disappeared

Racism was now hidden from plain view while still being confronted daily and feared

Being born of a Jamaican father and English mother was not widely accepted

It was looked down on by many, leaving families feeling shunned and rejected

The inner city of Bristol became a safe haven for the African Caribbean community

This is where Marvin’s family settled as it offered them a sense of belonging and security

But even within this community

Marvin was a member of a new minority

Who were classed as half-breed or half-caste

Which could have you classed as an outcast

Growing up in the inner city of Bristol also exposed Marvin to the extreme divisions

of wealth and opportunity within the city

Just a mile away there was another life where crime wasn’t permitted; the streets were kept clean

And the houses looked pretty

The inner city streets of Bristol were neglected and suffered from numerous acts of crime

That corrupted children before they had an understanding of life resulting in many doing time

Marvin’s mother’s care, love and affection is a clear reflection on

the direction Marvin took in life leading to his election

Marvin took a route that steered him away from the streets

This resulted in him striving for and achieving great feats

Marvin learned discipline from an early age through joining his local boxing gym

Along with attending church this installed faith, self-belief and what it takes to win

Through these disciplines Marvin focused his will to excel and create change

Believing life’s injustices were unjust and that he could work to break the chains

Graduating from several universities, including gaining a fellowship at Yale

Marvin progressed instead of accepting the stereotypes that had labelled him to fail

Marvin moved on to work for the BBC, the NHS and Labour Party

Fuelling his passion to work towards a City that is equal and free

Marvin has stayed true to this cause

And now reaps the rewards

Of following his dreams

As all can be more

Than at first it seems

Marvin Rees was elected Mayor of Bristol on the 5 th of May 2016

Marking an incredible achievement for one who followed a dream

Now Marvin Rees’s legacy has truly begun

A son of Bristol who became Europe’s number one

Lawrence Hoo

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