Black History Month
Black History month is a key campaign within the University's annual calendar of events. This year, we are looking at a variety of engagement opportunities, events and sessions to allow all members of our community to learn about the origins of Black History Month and to celebrate the rich history of Black people in the UK. There will also be lots of chances to understand how all of us can use our privilege to drive change and further inclusion.
If you would like your events and activities to be included and promoted here then let us know by email.
We’re here to help, so if you’d like to discuss your ideas please do get in touch!
The Students' Guild and Students' Union (TheSU) have also organised a series of events to mark the celebrations and you can view these at https://www.exeterguild.org/blackhistorymonth/ and https://www.thesu.org.uk/whats_on/bhm/
Black History Month 2020 – special bulletin
Read our Black History Month bulletin and get involved through the events, activities and resources brought together and compiled by students and staff at the University of Exeter.
- 'The Making of 100 Great Black Britons' with Dr Patrick Vernon OBE. (2nd October, 16:00-17:00)
17 years ago, Dr Patrick Vernon OBE launched the first 100 Great Black Britons campaign to ensure the continued legacy and achievements of Black people in Britain. In 2019 Patrick launched a new campaign with the results and publication being launched for September 2020.Following the talk will be an opportunity for Q&A with the audience.
- Our university’s role in addressing racism and enabling DICE discussions (5 October 2020, 16:00 – 17:00)
A panel discussion with Pamela Maynard (CEO, Avanade), Ian Thomas CBE (Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston Council) and Wol Kolade (Managing Partner of Livingbridge), facilitated by Katie Donovan-Adekanmbi (BCohCo).
Panelists will discuss how our University community can engage positively in the vital discussion and actions necessary for to address Racism and to achieve our goals of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
- Building Cohesive Communities: Embedding Diversity, Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality (DICE®) (6 October 2020, 16:00 – 17:00)
This webinar series is hosted online by Katie Donovan-Adekanmbi, Inclusion and Cohesion Specialist (BCohCo). This talk will consider how social inequality and injustice affects different communities. It aims to explain how embedding DICE® practice is key to professional development in the post Covid world and will cover the following four areas:
- Social Inclusion
- Social Capital
- Social Mobility
- Social Cohesion
- Braid with me, Exeter African and Carribean Society (6 October, 19:00-20:00)
Visit the ACS instagram (@exeteruniacs) for a fun instagram live session on how to braid/cornrow hair!
- African-American Soldiers of NH During the Revolution (6 October, 19:00-20:00)
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Student Christian Movement: Christianity and Black Lives Matter (7 October, 19:00-20:15)
Our Student Christian Movement Group, coordinated by the Anglican and Baptist Chaplaincy from the University’s Multifaith Chaplaincy team, meet on Zoom to explore the somewhat difficult history of the Christian faith’s response to race. We’ll chat about how 21st century Christians can build a more inclusive and progressive approach to faith, and especially how we can respond to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Staff and students of any background or belief are warmly invited to join us. More details including the Zoom link on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/scmexeter
- 'How businesses can support their people of colour community and staff' (8 October 2020, 16:00 – 17:00)
A panel discussion with Shumaila Dar (Senior Policy Lead for Equalities at the London Borough of Harrow Council) and Dean Fearon (VP Digital Platform Services at JP Morgan); facilitated by Katie Donovan-Adekanmbi (BCohCo).
Panelists will share their experiences on how they have overcome adversity in the past and turned them into success and how businesses/organisations can support their People of colour (POC) community staff.
- Partnership working to tackling Hate Crimes and Extremism (13 October, 12:30-14:30)
The event seeks to bring together speakers with lived experience and partners from across the Devon and Cornwall region, including Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter Community Safety Partnership and Devon County Council. As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, the event focuses on experiences of radicalisation and extremism and the role we can play in responding to and tackling hate crime in our community. The event is open to all students, staff and associates of University of Exeter, Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter CSF and Devon County Council to share best practice, build trust and encourage partnership working.
- Making your way as a black entrepreneur - The Exeter MBA Leading Edge Series (14 October 2020, 16:00 - 17:30)
As part of Black History Month, broadcaster and journalist Brenda Emmanus will chair a panel of black entrepreneurs who will discuss and share their experiences on becoming successful and respected professionals within their field.
- Geographies of slavery heritage tourism: places of remembrance and dialogue (14 October 2020, 16:00-17:00)
In an increasing multicultural society, the stories we tell of the past can bring us together or push us further apart. Through travel and tourism we encounter new cultures and perspectives on such stories of the past in certain places. The stories of slavery as told through slavery heritage tourism, is not merely ready-made but actively produced being open to misunderstanding and contestations. However, little is known about the cultural work of tourism in producing slavery heritage spaces and how it contributes to the ensuing transformations of contested narratives about the past. Join this event to hear from Dr. Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong, Assistant Professor in Cultural Geography Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
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Modern Racism and Cultural appropriation in the UK (14 October, 18:00)
While Black History Month is a celebration of black culture, it is also a time to recognise the ways we need to progress as a country. Join us as we work with Rethinking Society to address the realities of modern racism in the UK and begin to normalise conversations on racism. All are welcome to our zoom call! More info on instagram @ExeterUniAcs
- Growing up black in Cornwall: A Guest lecture by Cheveay Oakley (15 October, 19:00-20:00)
Join the History Society Committee for a guest lecture and Q&A with Cheveay Oakley. Cheveay, who grew up in Cornwall, went viral on Twitter detailing her experience of growing up black in Cornwall and is speaking to us about her experience.
Click here to find more information
- BME Network Social (16 October, 13:00-14:30)
Black and Minority Ethnic Staff, Student and Allies network welcome all to our lunchtime social get together on Friday 16 October and Thursday 29 October at 1pm. Please email BMEStaffNetwork@exeter.ac.uk for an invite.
- Decolonising the Curriculum by Dr. Caitlin Kight (19 October, 16:00 – 17:00)
This interactive session aims to demystify the concept of decolonization by exploring what it is, what it aims to achieve, and how it is situated within the broader context of anti-discrimination work. Attendees will have opportunities to (anonymously) share their own views and experiences—and, as a group, we will examine decolonization at Exeter generally and within the Business School specifically. Together, we can celebrate what is going well, and brainstorm some potential next steps that can advance decolonization work even further.
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Symbols of Colonialism in the South West & Beyond by Louisa Adjoa Parker & Richard Toye (19 October, 10:00 - 11:30)
An overview of Black History in the South West, with examples of symbols of colonialism and slavery, and ask, what is the impact of such symbols on the Black, Asian and ethnically diverse people living in the West Country today?
- Decolonising the Curriculum Departmental Review: In-conversation with the authors (21 October, 17:00 - 18:30)
Students from Politics at our Penryn campus in Cornwall host a talk and Q&A discussing their report on Decolonising the Curriculum and the wider impacts it has on the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student experience at the University of Exeter.
Meeting ID: 998 1374 5440
Password: 303791
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All Dead White Men? Race and Racism in Classics and the Classical World (21 October, 16:30 - 17:30)
This talk by Dr Daniel King examines two themes: the ways in which race and colour were seen in antiquity, and the ways in which classical scholarship has represented the classical past.
- Telling Our stories – Experiences of living and working in the South West (21 October, 14:00-16:00)
Mr Edward Magbwe: BME representative RCHT (Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust) and Dr Tudor Chinnah with University of Exeter Medical School.
Meeting ID: 945 1693 7060
Password: 530437
- Understanding and avoiding micro-aggressive behaviours (22 October, 16:00-17:00)
This talk will consider Bias - Conscious or Unconscious, manifestation – Micro-aggressions, Power of Language and Impact. Avoid offending, discrimination and acting with prejudice. Build on ‘know how’ when interacting with a diverse range of colleagues and customers. Furthermore, safeguard yours and others wellbeing; encourage individuals to be their authentic self, to release the energy resource that would ordinarily go into masking their truth.
Click here to register
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Eighteenth-Century Black Lives Matter: Black Autobiography in Georgian Britain (22 October, 17:00 - 18:00)
In this lecture by Dr Ryan Hanley, we will use eighteenth-century life writing to explore how Africans and their descendants contributed to Georgian society far beyond the issues of slavery and abolition.
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Panel discussion “Microagression in clinical and academic environment – experiences and ways of dealing” (23 October, 12:00-14:00)
This talk will consider Bias - Conscious or Unconscious, manifestation – Micro-aggressions, Power of Language and Impact. Avoid offending, discrimination and acting with prejudice. Build on ‘know how’ when interacting with a diverse range of colleagues and customers. Furthermore, safeguard yours and others wellbeing; encourage individuals to be their authentic self, to release the energy resource that would ordinarily go into masking their truth.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 936 8967 9333
Password: 865026
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“Sarah E. Farro: What a newly discovered African American writer can tell us about the British Victorian Novel” (23 October, 17:30)
Join Prof. Gretchen Gerzina in this free online public lecture, exploring the life and work of a newly-rediscovered African-American writer, and what we can learn from it about the Victorian novel.
Click here for more information and joining instructions
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BIPOC Society - What does it mean to be a non-black POC ally? (24 October, 16:00)
The event aims to provide a guide for non-Black POCs on how they can be active allies in being anti-racist and in recognizing their unconscious bias. The event will consist of a half hour talk by two committee members and then we will be opening up a chance for discussion for the next 30 minutes. Topics covered will include: What is Black Lives Matter? Why is it important for members of non-black communities to be actively anti-racist? Racism as the root of personal biases We are hoping that we can have your members attend and engage in discussions pertaining to the above mentioned topics.
- BME Network Social
Black and Minority Ethnic Staff, Student and Allies network welcome all to our lunchtime social get together on Thursday 29 October at 1pm. Please email BMEStaffNetwork@exeter.ac.uk for an invite.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/teachers/informationandresources/blackhistorymonth/academiclectureseries/
- Why does the idea of race exist? (27th October 17:00 - 18:00)
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In the talk, Dr Stuart Scrase will look at colonialism, slavery, and science, and ask how these produced the false idea that humanity could be broken up into groups and that some of these groups were biologically superior and others inferior. To find out more and register, please visit the WP Teachers page.
- Untold Histories in Cornwall and the South West: Discovering Black History (Wednesday 28th October 16:00 - 17:00)
Penryn Humanities host a panel discussion and Q&A, chaired by Dr. Richard Anderson with writer and poet Louisa Adjoa Parker and independent scholar Charlotte MacKenzie. To find out more, please visit the Eventbrite page.
- BME Network Social (Thursday 29th October, 13:00)
Black and Minority Ethnic Staff, Student and Allies network welcome all to our lunchtime social get together on Thursday 29 October at 1pm. Please email BMEStaffNetwork@exeter.ac.uk for an invite.
- Untold Histories in Cornwall and the South West: "These don't relate to here" Exploring Black History through Museums and Archives (Thursday 29th October 15:00 - 16:30)
Penryn Humanities host short presentations from writer and researcher Benjamina E. Dadzie and Learning Lead for Kresen Kernow, Chloe Phillips, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Bryony Onciul. To find out more, please visit the Eventbrite page.
- Colonialism and its long-term effects on African states and societies (29th October 17:00 - 18:00)
Dr Elena Gadjanova will explore the nature of European colonialism in Africa, some of its underlying characteristics, and trace its long-term impacts on African states and societies. To register for this event and o find out more, please visit the WP Teachers page.
- Artist Talk: Decolonising Design with Mukhtara Yusuf (Thursday 29th October 18:00 - 19:00)
Join Penryn Humanities for an artist talk with Mukhtara Yusuf, a Yoruba-Nigerian-Muslim visual artist, scholar and designer to talk about decolonising design. More information can be found on the Eventbrite page.
- Roundtable: International Solidarity from BLM to Palestine to Hong Kong (Friday 30th October 17:00 - 18:00)
Join Penryn Humanities, Jacqui German, Promise Li and Jaice Sara Titus for this roundtable discussion on Black Lives Matter and international solidarity. More information can be found on the Eventbrite page.
- West Indian Literature: What is it all about? (30th October 17:00 - 18:00)
This session will introduce PhD student Zakiya McKenzie’s research into British-Caribbean literary collections, through which she is seeking to develop a critical understanding of Black British writing careers between 1950 and 1980. To register for this event and o find out more, please visit the WP Teachers page.