Black History Month 2023 - Upcoming Events on Campus
Black History Month 2023
October marks Black History Month, an annual month-long celebration of the culture, origins, histories and achievements of African and Caribbean communities and their diaspora. 2023's theme as announced by Black History Month UK is ‘Saluting our Sisters’, this year aiming to platform the achievements and contributions of black women that have historically been sidelined.
Throughout the month, there will be a series of events on campus which will be publicised each Thursday on Staff Notices for events taking place the following week. You will also receive a reminder from your School or Service's Diversity Champion.
Event on campus - Black History Month Tasting Table, Wednesday 4th October, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Taking place outside the Students' Union shop, join the EDI team, members of the Black History Month working group, and members of our B.A.M.E. Staff Network at our Tasting Table to sample African inspired bite-size black eyed pea fritters (known as akara) with an accompanying dip, and share stories around the theme of 'Saluting our Sisters'.
Online training opportunity - LearnUpon: 'Let's Talk About Race in the Workplace'
During week one of Black History Month, we would like to encourage staff to complete the LearnUpon module 'Let's Talk About Race in the Workplace'. The module aims to help learners understand that racism is not just about explicit language, abuse, or discrimination, understanding the role of unconscious bias in society and the workplace.
An in-person training event for Anti-Racism and Allyship will also be taking place on Wednesday 11th on campus with hybrid options available, covering privilege, microaggressions and how to be an ally. If you would like to attend, please complete this MS Form with your attendance preferences (25 in-person places available).
Black History Month Poetry Competition Launch
Black History Month UK are also hosting a national poetry competition open to primary, secondary, college and university students across the UK, where there will be separate categories for each level. The competition will be judged by a panel of experts in literature and poetry, with winners announced on world poetry day is celebrated on 21 March 2024. For full details, visit the Black History Month UK website.
Events for the month are currently live on the Black History Month 2023 events tab, and will be publicised each week via the Hub.
Black History Month Book Club
Throughout October, we will also be platforming a range of literature with something for everyone, fiction and non-fiction, from black female and non-binary authors in line with the theme of Saluting our Sisters.
Keep an eye out each week on the Staff Hub Notices for our picks, including novels ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernardine Evaristo and ‘The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett which will be discussed at Book Club events taking place on Thursday 12th and Thursday 19th October. You can find the details on our EDI events page.
Week One Books...
Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl's Bible - Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth
'Slay in Your Lane: the Black Girl's Bible' is an honest, inspirational insight to life for Black British women, celebrating the strides already made and providing practical advice for those wishing to do more and forge a better future. The book draws upon stories from the author's lives, as well as interviews with dozens of successful Black women in Britain, making it essential reading for young Black British women. This title is available through HudReads.
The How: Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself - Yrsa Daley-Ward
LGBTQI+ author and acclaimed poet Yrsa Daley-Ward from the North West of England draws heavy inspiration from her own experiences in her work. 'The How' is described as a 'beautiful blend of lyrical prose and bold poetry' (Publishers Weekly); a self-help book that is a collection of poetry, thoughts, prompts and exercises for the reader, encouraging readers to embrace creativity, self-reflection and a look into ourselves, who we really are behind our preconceived notions that have built up throughout our lives.
Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams
Critically acclaimed new adult novel 'Queenie' follows the story of Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year old British-Jamaican woman navigating life in the midst of a difficult year. Author Candice Carty-Williams calls the protagonist 'naturally political', as the novel explores themes of everyday racism. 'Queenie' is a funny, clever novel following Queenie's attempt to sit between two cultures, never feeling that she quite fits into either.
Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi
Freshwater is Emezi's debut novel, and is described as an semi-autobiographical story of a Nigerian college student who discovers she has three spirits living in her subconscious. The novel explores Igbo culture and heritage in regards to spirituality and gender roles alongside Western views, encouraging the reader to think critically about the spirit and body binary. Emezi was the first non-binary transgender author to be nominated for the Women's Fiction Prize in 2019.