October marks Black History Month across the UK, celebrating the history, achievements, and contributions of black people. Provoking conversations on a range of topics in relation to black history.
The beginnings of Black History Month go back to 1926 when black historian Carter G. Woodson began what he called “Negro History Week” in the USA. In 1969, the week’s celebration was expanded to a month and in 1976, Black History Month was endorsed by the US government.
In the United Kingdom, Black History Month has been celebrated every October since 1987. Carter Woodson’s original goal was to educate everyone about the cultural backgrounds and achievements of people of African descent.
With that in mind, we want to let you know about all the fantastic events running throughout October/November at UoR and in Reading!
If you have an event you would like to highlight send it to us studentcomms@reading.ac.uk
Throughout October
RUSU Black History Month – Find the Figures
For Black History Month, we’ve placed posters of renowned figures central to black history around campus. If you can find all seven, the highlighted letters on each poster can be rearranged to spell a topical word. Correct answers will be entered in to a prize draw.
Enter now via our survey!
Throughout October
It’s not about the Statues, Reading Refugee Support Group
“It’s not about the Statues” a monologue by Thabo Makuyana, Rank & File Theatre and RRSG inspired by a timeline of events spanning from 1968 to 2020.
Available on Reading Culture Live throughout October
Throughout October
Black Inventors and Innovators, Reading Windrush Group (BAFA Reading and Partners)
The Reading Windrush Group have produced a website as a celebration of Black inventors & innovators and role models. It highlights the contribution of Henry Baker and includes a list of over 400 Black inventors and their inventions (including patent numbers and dates).
Visit cag-reading.org.uk
Throughout October
Black History Untold Queen Anne’s School
Sixth Form students from Queen Anne’s School present various untold and unknown black historical events and characters on their YouTube channel as a celebration of Black History Month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBgshFG4FTAhttps://www.youtube.com/user/ QueenAnnesSchool
Throughout October
Reading Museum – An Exploration of Windrush Day
Visit https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/resources/windrush-day-22-june to see their fantastic online exhibition exploring Windrush Day. In partnership with Reading’s Caribbean community and with the support of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) we’ve created a range of online resources below, teaching, celebrating and commemorating the Windrush story.
20 October until 12 December
Coming Home – National Portrait Gallery
A portrait of the black civil rights pioneer, actor and musical virtuoso Paul Robeson is being displayed at Reading Museum for this year’s Black History Month, as part of a major project developed by London’s National Portrait Gallery. The COMING HOME project sees portraits of iconic individuals from the national Collection travelling to places associated with their subjects.
This year marks 60 years since Paul Robeson sang to a large and enthralled audience at Reading Town Hall; a legendary event in Reading’s cultural history arranged by the Reading and District Association for Peace. The bromide photographic print portrait by Neil Libbert shows Robeson in 1958, the year in which his political activism had forced him to leave the United States and live in exile in the UK.
Look out for special performances on Reading Culture Live in celebration of this project.
Tuesday 20 October
12.00-13.30 Trans-Atlantic experiences of the ivory tower
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- Professor Katherine Harloe, University of Reading
- Professor Olufunmilayo Arewa, Beasley School of Law, Temple University
Use this link to join the event
Tuesday 20 October
RUSU: Black History Month
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- Rachel Wates, RUSU Diversity Officer 2020/21
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- Ruth Adeniyi, RUSU BAME Officer 2020/21
Use this link to join the event
Wednesday 21 October
14.00-16.00 Race at the School of Law
We will have an open staff-student discussion on the racial experience of students from Ethnic Minority groups at the School of Law. We have a padlet board on which staff and students have started to share their experiences. We encourage everyone to engage with the board.
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- Dr Matthew Windsor, Lecturer
- Alex Ojo, BAME rep for Law Society
- Suralini Fernando, Widening Participation Officer
- Dr Ana Cannilla, Lecturer, Chair Student Experience Committee
Wednesday 21 October
15:00 – 16:00 Virtual Roundtable: BAME Students in the UoR History Department
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- Dr Natalie Thomlinson, Department of History
- Students, Department of History
Thursday 22 October
14:00-16:30 Am I Enough? In celebration of Black History Month
TEDx speaker and Wellbeing coach, Toluwa has spent most of her professional career working with young people around the world, enabling them to make transformative changes in their personal and professional lives as well as their communities.
This interactive seminar will be focused on what self-worth, self-love and self-confidence look like for students of colour, with practical tips and wellbeing techniques provided. The seminar is designed to be a small, intimate online workshop. Providing a space where we can discuss openly, without judgement and without hesitation. We are coming together to learn, to share and most importantly to reflect.
Join Toluwa on the 22nd of October at 2-3.30pm in this intimate wellbeing seminar, exploring the Topic: Am I Enough?: In celebration of Black History Month.
This is one not to be missed. Book now!
Thursday 22 October
18:00-20:00 Precolonial Africa – A Talk by the Boukman Academy
African people have a long and wonderful history outside of colonialism and the Civil Rights Era. Join us as we take a look at the accomplishments of African people across the precolonial world, from the insurmountable riches of Carthage, the endless innovation of the Nile Valley, Moorish expertise in Southern Europe, and so much more.
In this 2-hour session with the Boukman Academy, we will be highlighting the heights of African civilisation, delving into day-to-day life and exploring the abundant cultures of the time.
Monday 26 October
19:30 – 21:00 Decolonising Gospel Music
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- Professor Robert Beckford, The Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham
- University of Reading Chaplaincy’s Café Théologique
Facebook Event Link (Zoom Details in the Description Box)
Tuesday 27 October
12.00-13.30 BAME Allies launch and discussion: anti-racism and allyship
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- Dr Natalie Thomlinson, Department of History
- Dr Heike Schmidt, Department of History
Wednesday 28 October
13:00 – 13:50 RUSU – BHM Reading Club – Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race
Join your Diversity Officer for an open group discussion on the book by Reni Eddo-Lodge, titled ‘Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race’. You can read the original article the book is based off on The Guardian’s website.
You can access the session via zoom and check out this list of discussion topics.
Wednesday 28 October
14:30 – 16:00 If Not Now, Then When?
Join us for a deep discussion with Rob Neil OBE as we explore our University community commitment to culture change, belonging and allyship.
Rob brings exceptional expertise as a prominent leader of Diversity and Inclusion work in the public sector, both celebrated and recognised for his work on race equality initiatives in the workplace. This event seeks to crystalize what we can and will do to embed sustainable change here at the University of Reading. Led by the preliminary findings from the Race Equality Review, we are also delighted to host a panel of UoR colleagues including academic and professional services staff members, alongside students and post-doctoral/early career researchers. The Diversity & Inclusion team bring you the opportunity to develop our strategies further, keeping the conversation active and at the front of our minds. All are welcome to engage with this event, ask questions and have your voice heard.
Thursday 29 October
18:00-20:00 University of Reading Careers team Black History Month: Be visible. Be brilliant. Be you.
Join our diverse panel of students, and professionals to hear about their career journeys, the internal and external barriers they have overcome and how they have achieved success. The focus of this event will be on exploring experiences of recruitment and transition into professional workplaces, and the impact of ethnicity and cultural identity
Our speakers come from a range of backgrounds and sectors and are keen to share their insights with you and answer any questions you may have.
Do not miss this incredible opportunity to:
– Ask questions and have discussions in a warm, collaborative environment;
– Connect with new people from variety of backgrounds;
– Grow your network.
RUTH ADENIYI, RUSU BAME Officer, will be chairing this event.
Thursday 29 October
18:00-19:00 Learning from Joanna Abeyie MBE, a BAME Network and Women@Reading Event
Reading Distinguished Graduate of the Year 2019, Joanna Abeyie MBE, answers your questions and shares her experience as an entrepreneur, leader and champion of diversity, inclusion and equality. This event is co-hosted by the University of Reading BAME Network and Women@Reading for staff, students and alumni.
Tuesday 5 November
13:00 – 14:00, Diversity and Inclusion Termly Lecture, G11 Henley Business School, Whiteknights
Rob Neil OBE, Culture Change and Leadership, Department of Education
Rob is an inspirational, engaging, and challenging speaker on race equality and how to make real change in institutions. He moved earlier this year to a change-leadership role at the Department of Education after 35 years at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) where he co-founded the PROUD BAME Staff Network, and led Project Race to support the delivery of the MoJ’s objectives to deliver increased numbers of BAME staff at Senior Civil Service level by facilitating honest conversations about Race across the MoJ. He was awarded the OBE in The Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours list for ‘Services to Race Equality in the workplace and the community.’
Saturday 21st November
18:30 Caribbean Stories
Join us on Saturday 21st November from 6.30pm for our Caribbean stories screening night. We will be sharing a couple of screen gems featuring African Caribbean talent plus there will be a poetry reading from our Windrush themed poetry competition winner. It’s free and online, you can sign up here filmandpoetry20.eventbrite.co.uk
Questions? Contact Jocelyn@throughadifferentlens.co.uk
https://www.throughadifferentlens.co.uk/arts-event-promotion-and-marketing
Other events happening on campus?
To find out what else is happening, hosted by our societies as well as the University, you can head to our Facebook event.
To keep up to date with events throughout the year, keep a close eye on the RUSU website, or join our BAME Students Community on Facebook.
Links to further information
https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/black-history-month-2020/
https://www.rusu.co.uk/news/article/rusu/Black-History-Month-2020/
https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-848429.aspx
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings/region/online-event/
The Windrush Help Team – Here to Support you and your family. Call the free helpline: 0800 678 1925. Visit: gov.uk/WindrushHelpTeam
Let’s talk about BAME Mental Health
There is a lack of understanding of the support different groups of students need which is having a negative effect on their mental health at university. This year Bandy, RUSU’s Welfare Officer, wants to change that so all students feel supported and empowered to support each other. The first focus is on BAME mental health. Bandy will be finding out what specific support is available from the University in terms of mental health as well as sharing some personal experiences on Instagram. Keep an eye out on RUSU’s Instagram page RUSU’s Instagram page.
To get involved email campaigns@rusu.co.uk
https://issuu.com/readingcouncil/docs/bhm-2020-a5_v9