Black History Month


  • Black History Month

    Black History Month at Oxford Brookes - October 2021
    We are pleased to share a varied and stimulating programme of events hosted by the University during October. The programme has been developed, organised and curated by a volunteer project team led by our BAME Staff Network.

    This year's programme was delivered online (in person events are highlighted) and while this changes the experience of coming together, it also enables many more colleagues, students, friends and community members to join us - locally, nationally and internationally. 

    Recordings of some of the events are now available for you to enjoy. If you were unable to attend or would like to watch an event again please see links to the recordings below.

    Staff and students can also visit our page of Race and Anti-racism resources within the Oxford Brookes EDI wepages and the Anti-racism Reading List created by the Library. 

    Belonging: In Emergency, Break Glass - watch recording »

    Thursday 7 October, 12.00pm - 1.00pm

    What does it take to enable us to feel safe, to feel at home, or to feel like we ‘belong’ in whatever environment we find ourselves in?

    Euton Daley (Unlock the Chains Collective) and Amantha Edmead (Kuumba Nia Arts) lead an interactive session on the theme of 'belonging', supported by Rachel Barbaresi from Oxford Brookes' School of Arts. This workshop explores some of the realities of living in an unfair, unjust and unequal world and will examine whether your sense of belonging is dependent on how you feel about yourself or how others feel about you.

    Watch the performance stimulus for the workshop by Amantha Edmead and Euton Daley »

    The Power of Transforming Life Choice: A conversation with Amani Simpson - watch recording »

    Thursday 14 October, 12.00pm - 1.00pm

    Amani Simpson is an award-winning storyteller, social entrepreneur and youth coach. His social enterprise Aviard Inspires CIC, exists to empower young people through personal development, digital media and enrichment opportunities.

    Amani shares his story and pivotal events that changed his life trajectory, with a focus on overcoming, finding your true, authentic self and standing tall.

    Watch the recording »

    The African Concert Series: A celebration of the African continent through its music - watch recording »

    Tuesday 19 October, 6.00pm - 7.30pm

    Join us for a special musical celebration with Rebeca Omordia and Leon Bosch.

    Nigerian-Romanian virtuoso pianist Rebeca Omordia is changing the face of classical music. In 2019 Rebeca founded the first African Concert Series in London. The series featured a collaboration with the South African internationally-acclaimed double bass virtuoso, Leon Bosch, creator of "The South African Double Bass" project.

    Professor Marius Turda and Dr Graham van Wyk host and engage in the conversation with opportunities for Q&A.

    Watch the recording »

    Celebrating Black Entrepreneurs: Their journey and wisdom in building a business - watch recording »

    25 October, 6.00pm - 7.30pm

    Have you ever had a business idea and wondered what it would be like running it? Join Lettija Lee, Sherilyn Carter, and Elizabeth Solaru in a conversation about their entrepreneurial journey. They share their wisdom and lessons learned along the way. Hosted by Dr Yue Ang of Oxford Brookes University.

    Lettija is an entrepreneur and presenter currently working in brand strategy for Apple and Dreamville, Sherilyn Carter is a social media content and confidence coach specialising in personalbrand development and social media marketing, and Elizabeth Solaru is the multi award winning founder of Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium and the Luxury Business Emporium.

    Watch the recording »

    Public lecture by Ambassador Andrew J Young - Proud to Be - watch recording »

    28 October, 6.00pm - 7.00pm

    Join us for this special closing event for Black History Month 2021. We have the honour to welcome Ambassador Andrew J Young to Oxford Brookes, who shares some lessons we can learn today from the American Civil Rights movement.

    In the decades since Andrew Young helped change the course of history as a leader in the Civil Rights movement, he has built a remarkable legacy as a civic activist, elected official, groundbreaking ambassador, social entrepreneur, and adviser to presidents.

    Today, he leads the Andrew J. Young Foundation’s efforts to develop and support new generations of visionary leaders who will create sustainable global approaches to economic development, poverty alleviation, and the challenge of hunger.

    Watch the recording »

  • The events listed below were not recorded.

    The Art of Capoeira - Introductory Workshop - in person

    Tuesday 5 October, 7.00pm - 8.00pm
    The fascinating and vibrant series of movements known as Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. Originally practiced by Africans enslaved in Brazil, it has since become celebrated and practiced around the world.

    Abolição Oxford Capoeira provides classes, workshops and performances and contributes to the wider promotion of the Brazilian martial and cultural art form in Oxford. You can find out more about them at www.capoeira-uk.com.

    A People's Art - The Genesis of Freedom - online film screening and discussion

    Tuesday 12 October, 6.00pm - 7.30pm
    A screening of excerpts from the documentary film on the history of the London Notting Hill Carnival exploring the surrounding discourse and media commentary. Tony Oldham, award winning filmmaker of two films on the London Notting Hill Carnival (Arts of Conflict and A People's Art) will join Dr Nicole Ferdinand from Oxford Brookes Business School (who is featured in both films) for a discussion of key aspects of the significance and meaning of Europe's biggest street festival: London Notting Hill Carnival.

    Afro’Dance Workshop - online session

    Friday 15 October, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
    An online dance workshop presented by Ailey Extension

    Afro’Dance is a mixture of the new generation of African influences and street dance. In this class, dancers will work on musicality heavily influenced by the rhythm and musical trends from the Congo, Ivory Coast, Angola, and beyond.

    Why Black History Matters with Professor David Olusoga

    Wednesday 20 October, 6.30pm - 7.30pm
    Black history month is an American import. An African-American idea brought to Britain less than 40 years ago. Yet in that time it has grown to become part of British culture, a feature of the calendar for thousands of institutions and companies. After the Windrush Scandal, the toppling of Edward Colston and the summer of Black Lives Matter what next for Black British history?

    David Olusoga is the award-winning author, and presenter whose contributions to Britain's black history are defining. Currently the Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, Olusoga has committed to bringing essential topics, such as Windrush, slavery and the empire, to the forefront of conversations.

    Race in Architectural Education: Decolonising the Curriculum - in person

    Thursday 21 October
    How do we decolonise architectural education in the UK?

    Oxford Brookes' School of Architecture’s Place, Culture and Identity research group and Black in Architecture research unit invites architects, academics, industry professionals and students to come together for a day of seminars and a workshop on decolonising the architecture curriculum.

    This event is organised as part of a series of research impact activities programmed for the academic year 2021/2022 and is open to all staff, students and the wider community.

    Sitting on Top of the World: A Transnational History of the Blues

    3 November, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
    Dr Lawrence Davies examines blues musicians’ experiences of travel, and reflects on how blues has responded to global questions of class, race, solidarity, and exploitation.

    Lawrence Davies is a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Research Fellow at the International Centre for Music Studies, Newcastle University.

    Activism and Intersectionality

    17 November, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
    Shaista Aziz is a journalist, writer and women’s rights and anti-racism campaigner. Shaista specialises in working alongside marginalised communities across the country to build community campaigns tackling inequalities, racism and bigotry. Join us for this exciting event, which is co-hosted with Oxford Human Rights Festival and the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP), and marks Inter Faith Week 2021.

    Other events

    Brookes Union Black History Month events

    Every year, Brookes Union runs Black History Month as part of our commitment to representing black students at Brookes, decolonising the curriculum, promoting black history, culture and role models.

    This year, Brookes Union Explores is running free films every Friday in the Kennedy Room

    Brookes Union Black History Month

    Race Equality Forum

    Wednesday 29 September, 11.00am - 12.30pm

    This session, the first in a series of open dialogues, aims to support improved communication, accountability and transparency in relation to the University’s approach, progress and goals on race equity.

    A recording of the session will be available for Brookes staff to watch soon.

    Race Equality Forum

  • Recording: Why Paul Oliver Matters: the Blues and African American Music

    Christian O’Connell and Michael Roach discuss the significance of the Paul Oliver collection. From the Creative Industries Festival 2021.

    Paul Oliver with a group of blues musicians

    Recording: “Yuh cyah play mas if yuh fraid powder”

    Caribbean legacies and creativity in Oxford - Conversation with Euton Daley (Unlock the Chains Collective), Amantha Edmead (Kuumba Nia Arts) and Haroun Shah (Nostalgia Steelband and Carnival Club) on the history and futures of Caribbean cultural forms, arts and intellectual thought. From the Creative Industries Festival 2021.

    Performers on stage

    Recording: Oxford Annual Windrush Memorial Lecture - 22 June 2021

    For those of you who missed the annual Windrush Day Memorial Lecture led by Dr Dianne Regisford and Dr Rose Sinclair around the theme of belonging, you can now view the full recording on YouTube.

    Event image for the Oxford Annual Windrush Memorial Lecture 2021

    Recordings: African Treasury Week 2020 from Fusion Arts

    A series of lectures on sub-Saharan sculpture by Natty Mark Samuels, founder of the African School, a Cultural Educational project providing teaching in African Studies, to the general community; focusing on pre-colonial sub-Saharan societies. In collaboration with Fusion Arts Oxford.

    Event image for African Treasury Week 2020

    Writers Make Worlds

    An open educational resource hub for Black and Asian British writing today.

    Writers make worlds

    National Black History Month

    Events, resources and features

    Black History Month logo

    University of Oxford Black History Month

    Oxford University will deliver another engaging and informative programme for Black History Month during October 2021.

    University of Oxford logo

    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    The role of allyship in the NHS

    Tuesday 12 October, 10:00am - 11:00am (online)
    A talk from Joy Warmington, Non-Exec Director of OUH and CEO of brap, exploring the role of allyship in the NHS.

    Career journeys: black leaders in the NHS

    Friday 15 October, 1:30pm - 2:30pm (online)
    A panel discussion featuring black leaders in the NHS sharing their career journeys and insights in recognition of Black History Month.

    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

    Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust: Black History Month programme (download)

    Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust mark Black History Month with an impressive line-up featuring a diverse range of speakers, presenters and partners.

    • How to have conversations about race
    • Migration lullabies
    • Inclusive recruitment
    • Career development for BAME staff
    • How to set up an allyship programme
    • The Power of Staff Networks by best-selling author
    • Dope Black Dads

    Download the Black History Month programme for more events and information then register for the events on offer.

    Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Black History Month programme

    Dwelling: In This Space We Breathe by Khadija Saye

    To August 2022 at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

    Pitt Rivers Museum logo

    A Nice Cup of Tea?

    Crafted over cups of tea, this installation amplifies the stories, lives and resilience of Oxford’s communities, particularly those of Oxford’s Windrush generation and African Caribbean community, many of whom have family links to the transatlantic slave trade. Local residents, students from the University of Oxford, artists, and a museum team, have imagined, invented and created ‘A Nice Cup of Tea?’.

    Person looking at hanging ceramics in the art installation A Nice Cup Of Tea?

    Oxford Windrush Group: Caribbean Living Room Exhibition

    The Caribbean Living Room is BACK OPEN! Head to this immersive recreation of a 1960s West Indian front room to learn about the experiences of the Windrush Generation.

    As before, the exhibition will be open 10am - 4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 58, Between Towns Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 3LR

    Caribbean Living Room Exhibition

    Respect

    1-7 October 2021
    Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford

    The true-story of “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin’s life and career – from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom. Singer Jennifer Hudson serves up a powerhouse performance in this bold, crowd-pleasing biographical drama.

    Still from the movie Respect

    Explore the Paul Oliver Archive of African American Music

    The Paul Oliver Archive of African American Music (POAAAM) is a mixed media collection that includes books and magazines, music recordings, music scores, audio reel recordings, research papers, and a 1960s jukebox. Find out more about Paul Oliver and POAAAM, visit the online exhibition created as part of the Think Human Festival 2020, or listen to the jukebox playlist.

    Paul Oliver with a group of blues musicians

    Looking ahead...

    Race Equality Week - 7 to 13 February 2022
    Oxford Brookes will be supporting and participating in Race Equality Week in February 2022. Look out for further details of events and practical actions linked to this initiative and campaign.


  • Past events

  • 2 February 2021, 6-8pm

    Be Ambitious and Model Excellence (BAME) Panel

    Redefining “BAME” as we celebrate renowned black figures who dare to [B]e [A]mbitious and [M]odel [E]xcellence highlighting their goals and recognisable achievements. We will be joined by the CEO, founder, and visionary of the iconic MOBO platform Kanya King, Trevor Robinson OBE, CEO and founder of Quiet Storm, and Euton Daley MBE, CEO of Pegasus Theatre, Oxford.

    Kanya King, CEO and founder of the MOBO platform

    4 February 2021, 6-7pm

    An Evening with Dr Leroy Logan MBE

    Oxford Brookes University BAME Staff Network invites you to an evening with Dr Leroy Logan, who overcame a hostile and racist environment, to become one of the UK’s most outstanding police officers.

    Dr Leroy Logan MBE

    2 October 2020, 6pm

    Kick-off celebration

    Oxford Brookes University kicks off with an artistic cultural performance in collaboration with Kuumbia Nia Arts, Unlock the chains collective and Euton Daley MBE.

    Kick-off celebration

    7 October 2020, 6pm

    Black History Month Quiz

    From Black inventions to Black music, it's time to put your knowledge to the test!

    Black History Month Quiz

    9 October 2020, 12pm

    Be Visible, Be Confident

    In 2019 Louisa founded BAME to Boardroom in order to follow her passion for working with businesses to develop Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) talent into leadership roles; building confident, focused, high performing, and diverse teams, which in turn impact on organisational culture.

    Be Visible, Be Confident Brunch Workshop

    13 October 2020, 6pm

    Beyond Black History Month

    Beyond Black History Month aims to bridge the gap of conceptual ideas on diversifying Oxford Brookes University to providing real and definitive methods of creating actions on the following topics discussed.

    Beyond Black History Month: A Conversation on Race

    14 October 2020, 12pm

    Lunchtime Showcase

    This year we will be sharing projects, research, initiatives and community engagement activity.

    Lunchtime Showcase

    19 October 2020, 6pm

    AfroFusion Dance Class

    Join Zulum to learn the basic principles of African dance mixed with hip hop in this fun and energetic Afro-fusion dance class that will show you how to lengthen your body and extend your capabilities.

    AfroFusion Dance Class

    28 October 2020, 6pm

    Making Money Work

    The aim of this event is to create and enhance knowledge in personal finance using banking strategies and communicating new channels for students, staff and alumni of diverse backgrounds.

    Making Money Work

    Black History Month 2016 programme

    Download the Black History Month Programme 2016
    Black History Month 2016 cover image

    Black History Month 2016 events

    Download the Black History Month Events 2016
    Download the Oxford Brookes Black History Month events flyer

    This year marks the 50th year of race legislation in this country. This event will focus on the journey that the UK and race relations have taken. There are some commentaries that indicates that the UK has become post racial, this event will focus on the future of race relations in the UK as well as understanding the intersectionality that interacts with race. Rob Berkeley, writer and activist has focused his work on equality and justice. In particular the areas of race/ethnicity, LGBT rights, and the intersections between the two.

    Events EDI poster