This October, we celebrate Black History Month (BHM). This year's theme, "Reclaiming Narratives", focuses on correcting inaccuracies and amplifying untold black stories. While this effort should extend beyond just one month, BHM 2024 provides a unique opportunity for organisations to unite, celebrate black voices, explore the challenges faced by black people, and consider how we can address these challenges together.
We are focusing on three objectives for Black History Month 2024 at BU:
- Celebrating contributions and promoting understanding
- Inspiring change
- Encouraging education and reflection.
For each of these themes, we have selected some things you can do to get involved, including events, podcasts to listen to and even how to be part of our Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team (REC-SAT).
1. Celebrating contributions and promoting understanding
Black History Month highlights the significant contributions of black individuals who have shaped the UK’s history, culture, and society, celebrating achievements that often go unrecognised. Engaging with black history deepens our understanding of diverse experiences, challenges stereotypes, and fosters a more inclusive and equitable environment.
Black History Month Cultural Celebration
Thursday 17 October 2024, 6-8pm
Hosted by Sister Tama with Community Action Network, BCP Council and the NHS, the event will feature live music, art exhibition and stalls from local community groups. Further information and booking is available on Eventbrite.
Journeys of Excellence: Insights from Black Alumni
Wednesday 30 October 2024, 1:30-2:30pm
We will be holding a panel event open to all students and staff to attend. Listen to the journeys, stories, and lived experiences of a select panel of our alumni. This event provides an opportunity for learning, inspiration, and reflection. The panel is a collaboration between the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) team, Fundraising & Alumni Relations team, and the Race Equality Staff Network. Find further information and booking on Eventbrite.
SUBU Black History Month events
Your Students' Union has been working with your Black Students' Officer and the Carribean Society, Society of Nigerian Students and Full-Time Officers to put together a programme of events to celebrate and highlight the Black community at BU and locally. You can also visit the SUBU website to find out about the ways you can be an ally during Black History Month, and throughout the rest of the year.
2. Inspiring change
Reflecting on the past helps us address ongoing issues like racial inequality and social injustice, reaffirming our commitment to a future where everyone’s contributions are valued.
Race Equality Charter
BU joined AdvanceHE’s Race Equality Charter (REC) in 2016 and received the bronze award in July 2023. The REC aims to improve the representation, experience, and success of minority ethnic students and staff in higher education. We believe that BU can only reach its full potential when all members of our community, regardless of ethnic background, have equal access to opportunities. We adopted the Race Equality self-assessment framework as a rigorous and transparent means of understanding and progressing race equality across the university. As part of this process, a comprehensive Race Equality Action Plan has been developed. Responsibility for the actions is shared across the University, ensuring a coordinated approach to understanding and addressing issues.
We invite students and staff to join the Race Equality Charter Self Assessment team (REC-SAT), which meets quarterly to advance race equality efforts. If you're interested, please contact Professor Gelareh Roushan for more details.
Culture Corner with Elaine and Gloria - a podcast exploring cultural topics within the BU community
Listen to episode 3 where we speak with Professor Gelareh Roushan and Jonathan Goode about the progress of the Race Equality Charter action plan and the Race Equality Network, or episode 4's conversation with Ann Barnes and Dr. Keith Parry about the Inclusive Curriculum Evaluation (ICE) project, its origins, and its impact on addressing inequalities and enhancing curriculum inclusivity. The podcast highlights the crucial role of student involvement in the project and its benefits for both BU and the students.
3. Encouraging education and reflection
Black History Month is a chance to educate and reflect on how we can actively support inclusivity and diversity in our community.
There are many barriers to achieving race equity, including a lack of understanding of what it’s like to walk in others’ shoes and how to create inclusive environments. Small changes in behaviour can lead to powerful, long-lasting change. If everyone contributes to making small positive changes, we can collectively create a more inclusive and fair environment.
#ItsNotMicro
We’re resharing the #ItsNotMicro 5-minute challenge from Race Equality Matters. This includes the powerful short film "All The Little Things" (3:28), written and directed by Meena Ayittey. The film follows Adae, a young black creative working in an ad agency, as microaggressions gradually undermine his sense of belonging. The film demonstrates how small actions can have a profound impact on how others feel and function.
Further reading
If you would like to learn more about the issues, history, and discussion around Black History Month, as well as broader issues around race, BU library has curated an excellent reading list.
