Dig deeper into Black History Month
October marks Black History Month in the UK. First celebrated in 1987, it acknowledges the huge contribution that Black people have made to British society. It recognises the events and people who have shaped and continue to shape our society. Its UK mission statement is: “Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger.”
Many of GHWY’s members are holding free talks and workshops as part of the Month. Below are selected highlights, which will be variously run online or in-person.
Selected events
The University of Huddersfield is using an online card game to help empower people to have hard conversations about race and privilege during Race & Privilege: An Overdue Conversation on 14 and 26 October.
There is also an interactive element to An editathon for Black History Month: citing African scholars on Wikipedia, which is being run by the University of Leeds on 22 October. The event will teach people how to edit Wikipedia and help increase the representation of African scholars on the online encyclopedia.
People interested in the arts may want to register for Leeds Beckett University’s guest lecture with Yinka Shonibare CBE RA on 8 October. The Turner Prize nominee will be talking about the sculpture he is creating for David Oluwale, a Nigerian migrant who died as a result of police harassment in Leeds in 1969.
There will also be the chance to find out about how one artist used African influences in music to create a film at the University of Huddersfield on 28 October.
Sports fans may be interested in attending A Conversation with Iffy Onuora, Head of EDI at the Premier League at the University of Bradford on 27 October. He will share his story from studying at Bradford and moving into professional football. There will also be the chance for attendees to submit questions.
Anyone looking for more academic events may want to sign up for Proudly Black: Contributions of African legal philosophy to global justice at the University of Bradford on 18 October. Professor Engobo Emeseh will provide insightful perspectives in exploring the contributions of African legal philosophy to global justice discourse.
At the University of Leeds, Adriaan van Klinken will deliver his inaugural lecture as Professor of Religion and African Studies on 28 October. Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa will explore how African creatives contribute to the re-imagination of sexuality and Christianity in contemporary Africa.
The University will also host Covid-19 and the Racial Valuation of Diseases on 21 October. The lecture will develop a theoretical framework for racial valuation and apply it to the racialization of the novel coronavirus.
In addition there is an extensive programme of events being run at Leeds Trinity University throughout the Month. It includes a decolonisation forum, celebration of rap music, and a celebration of Black professors.
