Throughout October, the University is marking Black History Month with its ‘Proud To Be Black’ initiative, with activities including a digital gallery of ‘proud’ students, staff and alumni. Bedfordshire takes great pride in its diverse student and staff body and will be showcasing the achievements and positivity of its Black community on its dedicated campaign webpage (live 4^th October).

To launch Bedfordshire’s Proud To Be Black initiative and mark the arrival of Black History Month, a special Beds Bulletin news show aired on 30^th September on Radio LaB – the University’s community radio station. The special edition show featured interviews about Black History Month, the University’s campaign and upcoming public events, as well as covering student success stories and a variety of music and songs by Black artists, all chosen by the Beds Bulletin guests.

Chelsea Beckford-Procyk is a third year Midwifery (BSc) student who was interviewed for Beds Bulletin about the University’s campaign. She champions her Jamaican heritage and is proud to be a Black student midwife – and hopes to inspire other aspiring Black midwives to follow in her footsteps.

She said: “Representation matters, particularly in the current climate where Black women in the UK are four times more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth and the prenatal period than their white counterparts.

“I hope to inspire future aspiring student midwives from the Black community to pursue their dreams. Too often I hear about potential students being put off by naysayers. But if I can do it, so can you.

“I’m incredibly passionate about the decolonisation of midwifery education and the importance of anti-racism in maternity care. I hope to become not only a top notch midwife, but also a respected leader and force for change.”

As well as the profile gallery, the dedicated Proud To Be Black webpage also features relevant news stories, podcast recommendations, a special Black History Month playlist and a reading list collated by the University Library.

Throughout Black History Month, the University and Beds SU will be hosting a variety of free events for students, staff and the wider community.

Kicking the events calendar off will be ‘An Evening with Professor David Olusoga, OBE’ on 6^th October, which is part of Bedfordshire’s annual guest lecture series. During this online event, Professor Olusoga – a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker – will reveal the absence of Black history and Black role models in Britain’s education, and explore how Black Britons stamped their presence and their experiences on to the UK’s story over the past 50 years.

Ahead of the event, Professor Rebecca Bunting, Vice Chancellor, said: “We are excited to be hosting the upcoming public lecture with historian, Professor David Olusoga, OBE. His work around Black British history and culture is inspirational and something we’re certain our students, staff and the public will admire. We are proud of Bedfordshire’s diverse student body and staff, and hope that this event with Professor Olusoga will offer our University community something positive to take away, think about and explore further.”

On 7^th October, ‘An audience with Professor Charles Egbu’ will be hosted by the University’s Race Equality Network (REN). Professor Egbu is thought to be the UK’s first Black Vice Chancellor. During this webinar, he will revisit his journey in ‘getting to the top’ in the context of BME underrepresentation in higher education (HE) and will discuss improving and diversifying the HE sector.

Professor Egbu said: "Leadership plays a role in trying to promote awareness at every opportunity. I think leaders can make a difference – something I say when I meet my colleagues who are also vice chancellors. We have a role to play in setting policies, the tone, the culture, the language and making sure we constantly talk about it.

“This means a great deal to me as somebody who has had lived experience – I know things can be improved because I've had the opportunity of improving them and I'll continue to do just that. Achievements have been made, but there is still a lot to do.”

Dr Violet Cuffy, REN member and Senior Lecturer in Tourism & Events Management, added: "Our members felt it was essential to recognise prominent celebrations among its members through a University diversity calendar, celebrating significant events such as Black History Month.  REN identified Professor Egbu as an outstanding profile, who is a keen advocate for race equality issues and an appropriate speaker to address the Network during this month.

“As a network we are excited about the event and encourage colleagues, students and the public to join us as we welcome Professor Charles Egbu as part of the University’s activities for Black History Month."

Professor Uvanney Maylor will also be co-hosting a ‘Roundtable Discussion on Race & Education’ on 18^th October with the Bedford division of PESGB (Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain), which is based at the University’s Bedford campus.

For more information about the University’s Proud To Be Black campaign and Black History Month events, follow @uniofbeds on Twitter and Facebook and visit the Events page which is updated regularly.