Celebrate Black History Month
This October, the University will offer the opportunity to recognise and celebrate Black History Month at a variety of events.
This year’s theme ‘Saluting our Sisters’ highlights the crucial role that Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities in both Great Britain and around the world.
Banji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, said: ‘Black History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, share learning, and allows us time to reflect on the past, as we seek to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all. This year, we celebrate the incredible contribution that Black women have made to British society and the world, and I invite you all to take part in our programme this October.’
‘I’d also like to remind colleagues that applications for the 100 Black Women Professors Now! programme are open until Monday, 16 October. Please share and encourage colleagues within your area to apply.’
Events
Wednesday, 11 October
Data and the importance of representation with Sami Karamalla-Gaiballa, EDI partner (Data Analyst Lead)
Online, 12:30 -1:30pm
The University is committed to offering an inclusive environment and sense of belonging for all. Data collection and representation are an essential part of making this happen.
This interactive session will highlight the importance of data, offer insight into our staff and student community and how it informs our inclusivity initiatives at The University.
Wednesday, 25 October
Film screening and discussion
Manchester Museum, 6pm – late
An evening of film, discussion, and community! We invite you to join us in celebrating and platforming Manchester’s Black women activists and community change-makers. The event will showcase films made about local black women, exploring the foundations laid and the contributions to life in Manchester.
A specific focus of the evening will be Manchester’s Abasindi Co-Operative – a black women’s co-operative set up in Moss Side in 1980.
This celebratory event will look back at the foundations laid by black women in Manchester, such as those involved in the Abasindi Collective and beyond, and reflect on their legacy and impact today.
Following the films, the audience will be invited to join in with smaller discussions exploring themes raised in the film and sharing contemporary stories
There will be refreshments and West African lite bites served from 6-6.30pm.
Friday, 27 October
Founders and Funders: What Next?
John Rylands Research Institute and Library, 13:00 – 16:00 (Drop-in session)
Join the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in activities to promote and explore collections close to our current exhibition Founders and Funders: Slavery and the building of a University.
Our public engagement team and Matt Stallard, Associate Researcher at the Centre for the Studies of the Legacies of British Slavery University College London, will reveal and consider more items and stories from the archive of cotton spinning mill owners, McConnel & Kennedy.
We also welcome an Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre representative to inform, guide and answer questions about accessing collections, focused on Global Majority histories in Manchester, especially those with close geographic proximity to The University in localities such as Moss Side and Hulme. Drop in to find out more.
Saturday, 28 October
Black History Month workshops
Manchester Museum, 9am to 5pm
Adult and family workshops including story telling, print making and creative writing for all ages.
Monday, 30 October
Black History Month Celebration with Women@Manchester
Online, 3 – 4pm
As we celebrate Black History Month this October, this event give us the opportunity to make the achievements or our colleagues visible, celebrate and recognise difference, share what we are doing to remove barriers for Black women and inspire and empower upcoming generations of Black people to see the University of Manchester as a place that they belong and can thrive.
Our speakers will include Cianne Jones from the Women’s Higher Education Network (WHEN) who leads the trailblazing 100 Black Women Professors Now programme. Cianne will share insights into her career journey, personal narratives, and experiences in supporting women’s communities.
We are also privileged to have Prof. Dawn Edge, our only Black Female Professor and University Academic Lead for Race, Religion and Belief co-chairing this enlightening session with us.
Wednesday, 1 November
Under your nose film screening and Q&A
Manchester Museum, 5:30 to 8pm
Hosted by the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network, Under your nose is a fascinating documentary set against the backdrop of 1980s politics during the rise of Thatcherism, and HIV, they started their journey…Under Your Nose is a documentary dedication to those trailblazers who working in hostile and often dangerous times, offered hope and a lifeline to many others. Their legacy is still apparent today. – details to be confirmed but potentially hosted by the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network towards end of October in the Museum.
- Booking link coming soon
Wednesday, 15 November
Black History Month Film screening
Manchester Museum, 6pm – late
Film screening and discussion about the Dunbar Festival in Nigeria and some of the West African collections
About Black History Month
Black History month is an annual celebration of the achievements made by Black people. In the United Kingdom Black History month is celebrated in the month of October. It is used as a time to give appreciation and recognition of the positive contributions that Black people have made to British Society and Internationally. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, share learning, and allows us time to reflect on the past, whilst being proud of our culture and identity.