Messages about Black History Month

A message from Nishan Canagarajah - President and Vice-Chancellor

Our newly formed Black History Month Lived Experiences Steering Group demonstrates our approach to working closely with our Black student and staff community to ensure that the month is inclusive, engaging and authentically represents the lived experiences of our community. I am also delighted to announce that the University has recently appointed our first Black Student Experience Co-Ordinator who will work closely with our students and staff community to implement action relating to the Black student experience.  

Black History Month provides a great opportunity to celebrate and reflect on where we have made good progress and where we still need to do more. There are several initiatives that the University is proud to have developed to support our Black students and staff. These include the Black Excellence Programme, within the University’s School of Business, offering a range of resources for students and highlights the achievements of individuals in the Black community. The Black Leadership Programme, part of part of the Careers and Employability team’s Career Accelerator initiative, offers undergraduate students of Black heritage an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and accelerate professional development. Through the Len Garrison MA Scholarship scheme, the School of History, Politics and International Relations are supporting three studentships in 2024-2025 in Black British History. Through our Library’s Black History Month reading collection, we are ensuring thought-provoking stories by Black authors are recognised and promoted. Finally, the Students’ Union’s Black Excellence award and celebration evening is always a great way of shining a light on the incredible successes of our Black students.  

This year’s theme for the month is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ goes beyond simply revisiting history and marks a significant shift towards recognising and repairing the narratives of Black history and culture. It places emphasis on members of our Black community feeling empowered to take ownership of the stories that shape their narratives, their experiences, their culture and their contributions, and to share these stories through their lived experience. This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage.  

I strongly encourage you to participate in events and activities throughout Black History Month, and join us in celebrating the people, history and culture that make this month so special.

A message from Aishwarya Kote - Students' Union Liberation Officer, 2024/25

This year, the University of Leicester Students' Union is honoured to celebrate Black History Month with the theme 'Reclaiming Narratives' which is a time to celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of Black individuals from around the world; to uplift their diverse narratives and lived experiences, which have too often been marginalised or erased from mainstream discourses.

Through our BHM programme, the Students' Union aims to celebrate the profound impact that Black individuals have had on British culture and society. Our line-up of events includes a powerful keynote speaker, interactive workshops, and a thought-provoking documentary screening and discussion. Through these initiatives, we aim to foster deeper understanding, celebrate resilience, and empower our students to be active citizens driving positive change.