University celebrates Black History Month
Wed 11 October, 2023![Article Header Image](/media/qmsjisjf/bhm-banner-1920x1080.jpg?rxy=0.22021276737914314,0.3715942514480668&width=1036&height=583)
Students and staff at the University of Bedfordshire are hosting a number of insightful and entertaining events throughout October to celebrate Black culture, heritage and community as part of Black History Month 2023.
The #SASS Change Makers from the University’s School of Applied Social Studies are hosting a series of educational talks on 24th October for everyone to attend.
First up is ‘An Audience with Michelle Dornelly’, spotlighting the 2022 Pride of Britain Winner and CEO of Children with Voices. Held between 11am-1.30pm, Michelle will be joined by a number of other guests including Detective Superintendent Julie Henderson, who will be representing Women of Colour in Policing, and Who Am I? (2023) author, Suzanne Simmons-Lewis.
This event will then be followed at 2.30pm by ‘Windrush 75: Hidden Histories’ featuring guest speaker Nairobi Thompson – writer, poet and Bedfordshire PhD student – who’ll be questioning the journeys and treatment of migrants.
Following a successful showcase last year, Performing Arts students from the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries will be celebrating Black heritage and dance with two public events, supported by the Black Members Union Group (UNISON / UCU) and Bedfordshire’s Race Equality Network. The first two-hour show will be held on 26th October at the Bedford Campus Theatre and on the 27th October in the Judith Blake Theatre on the Luton Campus. Tickets are free but attendees are encouraged to register online in advance.
Meanwhile, Beds SU has lined up a wide variety of free events for the University’s students, including a Carnival exhibition organised by the African & Caribbean Society, a steel pan band concert, a film screening of Hidden Figures (2016) and a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Windrush.
Beds SU’s Co-President, Chidinma Akwada, will also be presenting a panel discussion and Q&A with special guests called ‘Her Story: Celebrating Black Inspiring Women’ on 18th October, which will focus on career success and aspirations.
The University’s Race Equality Network (REN) is also celebrating the achievements and contributions of pioneering Black women through art by running a poster competition which will be displayed in the University’s Luton Library with the winners announced in early November. To find out how to get involved, email REN@beds.ac.uk.
Looking back to the start of the month, the University’s celebrations began with an inspirational public lecture and Q&A with Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE which saw a packed audience of over 200 people turn out and hundreds more watching online. A recording of the event can be enjoyed again on YouTube.
For more information about the University’s Black History Month events, visit the online events page or the MyBedsLife app.
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