University of Leicester celebrates Black History Month

The University of Leicester is holding a number of events to mark Black History Month, alongside its Students’ Union and Attenborough Arts Centre.

Film screenings, discussions, archive recordings, poetry, live music performances and art exhibitions all feature in the month-long programme of events – which can be viewed on the website.

Highlights include:

• a talk on transatlantic slavery, landownership and enclosure in England, by the University’s Professor of Colonialism and Heritage, Corinne Fowler
• showcase of research by History PhD student, Gaverne Bennett, into Black literature and celebrating Black engineers, drawn from material held by the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton
• coaching and mentoring for professional development for Black staff and postgraduate researchers
• School of Business launch of a Black Leadership Programme
• the screening of the Soul Power documentary about 1974’s ‘African Woodstock’ festival, featuring James Brown, Miriam Makeba and Muhammed Ali
• an exhibition of Habib Hajallie’s Black Pen Portraits of figures from ethnically diverse backgrounds that have been conspicuously omitted from traditional British portraiture
• recordings of voices of residents who moved to Leicester in the mid-20th century
• life drawing and DJ takeover night
• food on campus which reflects and includes the flavours, ingredients and processes founded by Black food innovators.

Vice Chancellor and President of the University, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “We are proud to be a part of a growing diverse community and to celebrate the enormous contribution of Black staff and students at Leicester.

“We are committed to supporting our Black staff and students through continuing to develop a culture that recognises and responds to the distinct challenges and barriers faced by our Black community. We are making positive strides to champion various inclusivity work at the University. As part of the Black Excellence Programme, within the University’s School of Business, interventions have been implemented to tackle the awarding, attainment and satisfaction gaps of Black students at the School of Business. The Black Student Experience Working group is using insight into the Black experience to help shape how we offer assistance to our Black student and staff community.

“The University of Leicester’s Migration Network have recently hosted a successful event in the community to raise awareness and celebrate the contributions of Leicester’s Black communities in light of 75 years since Windrush and the NHS’s 75-year anniversary. With our library’s reading collection, we are ensuring thought-provoking stories by Black authors are highlighted. 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.”

Jade Thomas, Liberation Officer at the Students’ Union, said: “This year the theme is Saluting our Sisters. The Students’ Union has interpreted this to mean a celebration of those part of Black womanhood and the impact of their contributions on British culture. From music and food, fashion and art, and many more parts of British life, our impact can be widely seen and felt.

“We have so many wonderful Black Individuals within our community who continue to change the world for the better, every day. This year, we want to celebrate our students, providing spaces to connect and build communities within our Students’ Union family. Our events aim to uplift and celebrate the culture of Black women, supporting their contributions to society, both within the University and outside of it. We acknowledge the historic and systemic erasure of Black women and their contributions to society – from Moorish Maidservants to Stonewall. We will continue to thrive and make our mark #WeMatter.”

Find out more on the University’s Black History Month webpages.

The Black History Month events have been coordinated by the University’s Staff BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) Forum, Students’ Union and Attenborough Arts Centre.