A book about singer/songwritter Sister Rosetta Tharpe has been made in a project involving Chorlton High School, a former PHD student of the University of Manchester and the BAME Widening Participation programme. The book was funded by the British Association for American studies small grants programme and forms part of ongoing work by the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust and the Universities Widening Participation team to diversify the curriculum for schools across Greater Manchester.

Art pupils from Chorlton High School took part in a music workshops to learn about the life and history of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The pupils learnt about some broader historical context for the relationship between music, race and identity in the US – looking at how African American music has been utilised as a form of protest. They listened to spirituals and protest songs from the civil rights era and watched clips of Sister Rosetta performances including the one at Chorlton railway station in 1964. They then drew and painted illustrations to help tell the story of Sisters Rosetta’s incredible journey through music and fame and overcoming oppression. The pupils hosted a book launch at their school inviting over 100 others to come and read about Sister Rosetta’s story.

The book will now feature in the Race Relations Road Show that will take children’s book from the Centre into schools across Manchester. The book is available on loan or purchase at the Race Relations Resource Centre, Central Library. If you would like any more information about the book or the project please please contact the Student Recruitment and Widening Participation BAME Coordinator Catherine Millan.