On 25 May 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) George Floyd, a Black man, repeatedly gasped the words 'I can't breathe' while a white police officer restrained him by pressing his knee to Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Mr Floyd died.

A citizen's video of the encounter became public, and protests erupted across the USA. This triggered an outpouring of rage and grievances, particularly against law enforcement forces, who are collectively perceived as hostile to the communities of colour that they are paid to serve and protect.

This curriculum has been thoughtfully assembled by Shannon Ayers Holden, an American citizen and a member of the Alserkal team, as an online resource for anyone interested in learning more about the complex history of race relations in the USA. Taking the longue duree approach - showing how a struggle that began during the colonial period of slavery is now manifest in the present day – it is organised chronologically in five sections.

This list is intended as a starting point for dialogue on this subject, and is not intended in any way to be a definitive statement.