News | Thursday, 1st October 2020
Celebrating Black History Month: our events, stories and expertise
See what virtual activities and content the University has planned
Back in 1987, October became a dedicated month to recognise the contributions that people of African and Caribbean backgrounds have made to the UK over many generations.
Now, Black History Month (BHM) has expanded to include the history of all black people in general in Manchester, UK and abroad.
It is a national celebration that aims to promote and celebrate the contributions of people of colour to British society, and to foster an understanding of black history in general.
The University recognises and celebrates Black History Month each year as part of its commitment to equality.
Professor Jenny Watling, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International and University Executive Group lead for Race Equality, said: "October is underway and so is Black History Month.
"This celebration provides an opportunity for us to collectively remember the history that lives on, and to honour the enormous contributions the black community has made to Britain and beyond.
"To learn more about the history, influence and experiences of black people locally and globally, Manchester Metropolitan University is hosting an extensive array of BHM activities and resources throughout October, and continuing into the academic year."
"Black history is not just one month each year, nor should it only be about the past.
"It is important we continue to learn, face up to challenging questions and ensure we do everything we can to tackle racism.
"Speaking about ‘race’ may be uncomfortable at times however, BHM is also a time to reflect on the part we play in creating an environment where all of our Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students and colleagues are respected, heard and valued.
"In the era of #BlackLivesMatter, we are committed in our duty as a progressive Higher Education Institution to actively challenge prejudice, combat discrimination and promote equality.
"While we must commit to this each and every day, BHM gives momentum to engage in discussions, share knowledge and understanding and learn from each other in order to bring us closer as a community.
"The Manchester Met Black History Month programme is the result of the hard work of our community and is also a collaboration between Manchester Met, the Students’ Union and local universities and partners. I encourage everyone to get involved."
This celebration provides an opportunity for us to collectively remember the history that lives on, and to honour the enormous contributions the black community has made to Britain and beyond
Here are some of our events as part of the 2020 celebration (BHM2020) and more events, news stories and opinion pieces will be added as the month progresses.
PAC@75
PAC@75 is an exciting four-day celebration, marking the 75th anniversary of the 5th Pan-African Congress, a landmark conference held at Chorlton-on-Medlock Town Hall, the façade of which is now part of the new Arts and Humanities Building recently opened on Oxford Road.
Curated by Ola Uduku, Professor of Architecture, PAC@75 will be a multi-institutional series of creative and academic events, led by Manchester Metropolitan University, with contributions from the University of Manchester, the University of Salford and the University of Bolton, and in association with local creatives, the Manchester public, Research in Arts & Humanities (RAH!) and Dr Kai Syng Tan.
See coverage of PAC@75 in Big Issue North and Mancunian Matters.
'Black History is World History' Short Course
Delivered online by Linford Sweeney, a historian who specialises in African and black history, the purpose of the four-part course is to show how the history of the people of Africa and their descendants are powerfully tied to world history.
Sessions are from 6pm to 8pm on October 6, 13, 20 and 27. Free registration is required and places are limited.
Black History Month Open Bookshelf
The library has brought together a small but growing crowd-sourced virtual collection of resources that recognise and celebrate the amazing contributions and artefacts created by and impacting Black, African and Caribbean communities in the UK and worldwide.
This includes inspirational books titles, films and radio programmes and the library service is keen for this list to be an Open Bookshelf with suggestions welcomed from staff and students.
Throughout October, the library is asking for nominations to be made though its social media channels - Instagram, Facebook and Twitter - for additions to its collective bookshelf.
Check out the library's growing Black History Month Open Bookshelf collection on Wakelet
Celebrating Diversity
The Celebrating Diversity pages are the library's established showcase of materials in the library's collection featuring content relating to the many different and diverse communities and identities across the University and beyond.
It currently focuses on LGBTQ+ and BAME collections, with the view to broaden this out to cover other areas and groups, such as differently abled persons, faith and religion, age, family and gender.
It's important to the library to recognise what ts got, but also actively grow and diversify its collections to meet the needs and exceptions of our diverse University communities.
Virtual BME Alumni Panel Event
Our Development and Alumni Relations are hosting a virtual BAME alumni panel event for students, with student chairs from The Union.
The event will be on October 15 between 7pm and 8.30pm. Free registration is required.
Panel members:
- Naomi Stanley, MSc Computing 2019 and currently a Consultant Technical Manager at QA Ltd
- Mwaka Kalawo, BA (Hons) International Fashion Promotion 2016 and now a Digital Marketing Coordinator at Arcadia Ltd
- Lauraine Ekwaka, BA (Hons) Professional Accounting 2018 and working as a Business Financial Assistant at Barclays Bank. Currently studying a MSc in Finance and Strategies at Manchester Metropolitan
- Kwame Mensah, MA Multimedia Journalism 2018, and now a freelance multimedia journalist
- and a fifth member to be confirmed
BHM Video Discussion Panels
Two video discussion panels led by Manchester Metropolitan academics:
- The importance of talking about race for trainee teachers “Why is it so difficult to talk about race?”
- Building an anti-racist approach into a university programme
Black History Month Quiz: Discussing our past
Join the new BAME Ambassadors for their first event of the year kicking off The Union's Black History Month programme.
This unconventional quiz will explore Britain’s progressive and oppressive black history, giving you a chance to get involved in the discussion.
The event will explore the impact that black people, places and events had on Britain’s history, and takes place virtually on October 8 from 6pm to 7.30pm. Free registration is reqired.
Black History Month Virtual Tour: Exploring Manchester’s Black History
For our students, this unique virtual event hosted by the BAME Ambassadors on October 13 between 6pm and 8pm will take them on a virtual tour around Manchester looking at key events and places that shaped our cities connection to race.
The event will be centred on giving studnets an opportunity to meet new people and allowing them to share your opinions on the impact that certain events had on black history. Free registration is required.
Voices for Freedom – Poetry Library
The event is part of the Pan-African Congress@75 programme. Voices for Freedom has been developed in collaboration with SuAndi. Voices for Freedom will share unique performances of original and existing work including from W.E.B DuBois, Marcus Garvey and more. Presented by family members of PAC delegates in 1945, it will fuse oral history, dance, acapella and poetry, and takes place on October 15 between 7.30pm and 8.45pm.
Equality and Diversity Student Employability Events
Students can access a series of employability-related opportunities including BAME specific events throughout BHM2020 including:
Young and Black: Black LGBTQ+ Identity Within UK
Bright Network: Black Heritage Future Leaders
Young and Black: Being Black In The Workplace
Students must log in to My Career Hub to view more details.
Wellbeing Live Q&A: Hate Crime & Racism
A virtual event series with panellist discussions and live Q&As organised by The Union. Hosted by students for students, it takes an informal conversational approach to an important topic.
It will be broadcast from 6pm to 7pm on October 28. Free registration is required.
Black History Month 2020: why African philosophy matters and why we teach it
In an opinion piece, Lloyd Strickland, Professor of Philosophy and Intellectual History at Manchester Metropolitan University, explains how he learned to embrace the rich insights and challenges of African thought and why it is important such non-Western ideas are being taught to students.
Head of Nursing’s Windrush tribute inspires new generation of children
A London primary school teamed up with the NHS and a world-renowned steel pan orchestra to perform Prof Laura Serrant's poem ‘You Called…We Came’ for Black History Month.
More events, stories and extra content to come
