University of Leicester creates five-week Black History Month celebration
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 – find out all the details on the website.
Highlights include:
- Black Voices in Concert acapella performance with a mix of genres including blues, jazz, pop, gospel, reggae, folk and contemporary fusions, woven with stories of life through a journey of love, hope, social justice and truth
- A roundtable discussion with postgraduate and undergraduate students on teaching Black history
- A series of coaching and mentoring events for Black staff, including postgraduate researchers, will be taking place, including an appearance from guest speaker Sir Simon Woolley
- Information evening for students seeking internships and placements, hosted by ULSB Black Excellence
- Screening and discussion of research film Bringing Women’s Voices Back In: Gender and Oil Conflict in the Niger Delta
- Creative writing workshop with the theme of afro-futurism
- Screening and Q&A of Terry’s GI Dad; a film exploring Leicester resident, Terry Harrison’s emotional quest to trace his GI dad and learn about the lives of African American soldiers based in Britain during WWII
- Exhibition at the John Lewis department store in Leicester city centre.
University President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “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. This year’s theme for the month is Reclaiming Narratives, which goes beyond simply revisiting history and marks a significant shift towards recognising and repairing the narratives of Black history and culture. This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage.”
Aishwarya Kote, Students’ Union Liberation Officer, said: “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.”
The Black History Month events have been coordinated by the University, Attenborough Arts Centre, the Students’ Union, and the Staff Multi-Ethnicity Forum.