Oxford Brookes University is proud to celebrate Black History Month in October.
Everyone is welcome to the events and resources to support learning, connection and awareness.
Take part in our Black History Month virtual quiz to win one of three prizes!
Test your knowledge by answering 20 questions relating to Black history, Oxford Brookes and the wider Oxford community. (Hint: many of the answers can be found on the Oxford Brookes website).
Open to all staff and students. Entries close at 5pm on Friday 31 October. All correct entries will be put into a draw to win one of three £25.00 vouchers.
Read the questions here and submit your entry via Google form.
Wednesday 1 October 2025, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, JHB Lecture Theatre, Headington Campus
The Centre of Research in the Arts (CoRA) presents an evening of music featuring the calypso band D'Lime.
D'Lime were initially put together to perform in the Paddington Bear films. Along with singer Tobago Crusoe, their joyful renditions of the four calypso songs in the movie, ‘London Is the Place for Me’, ‘Gerrard Street’, ‘Blow Wind Blow’ and ‘Savito’ were so popular, they have since gone on to perform at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The lineup includes Mark Cherrie (steel pan/percussion), Felix 'Lix" Ruiz (keyboards/vocals), Curtis Ruiz (bass/vocals), Richard Bailey (drums) and Tim Cansfield (guitar/vocals). Of Afro-Caribbean & French creole origins, calypso or to be more correct ‘Kaiso’ music later migrated to the UK and beyond as part of the Windrush generation, becoming hugely popular. Enjoy an evening soaking up the warm Kaiso music with this fantastic band and hear from them in conversation with Michael Roach, blues musician and Chair of the European Blues Association.
A talk by historian and journalist Dr Shantella Sherman, organised by the Centre for Medical Humanities
Friday 3 October, 11.00am, CLC 1.05
This talk examines the rise of eugenic research, including anthropometric measurements, on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) between 1914-1944. The research of students at Tuskegee Institute (later, University) and Howard University expands the discourse on race hygiene, degeneration and inheritance by documenting the eugenic theories of Black intellectuals. As both researchers and the subjects of research, HBCU students - sometimes working with members of the Eugenics Records Office - attempted to quantify, redefine and disprove the inherent genetic weaknesses of the race. In the process they established an intra-racial criteria for determining the fit and feebleminded among African Americans.
If you wish to attend, please email Professor Marius Turda (mturda@brookes.ac.uk)
Wednesday, 22 October, 14:00 to 15:30 pm, JHB lecture theatre
As part of Black History Month, we will be hosting the Blackbird Leys Community Choir for an inspiring sing-along session, celebrating performances influenced by Black artists, heritage, and culture as part this year’s theme of Standing Firm in Power and Pride. Whether you're a seasoned singer or have never sung a note, you're more than welcome with no experience required! Refreshments will be provided and feel free to drop in at any time and enjoy this uplifting and inclusive gathering.
The Blackbird Leys Community Choir, based in Oxford, is a non-profit group committed to bringing people together through music while addressing important social issues. We’d love to see as many of you there as possible!
Here’s what attendees had to say about last year’s event:
- “Warm, welcoming and fun choir. Great to sing with you and thanks for supporting our BHM.”
- “Such a lovely community event. Thank you.”
- “It was amazing and so joyful! Thank you. Love the songs & meaning.”
- Looking forward to seeing you there for a fantastic afternoon of music and community spirit!
Tuesday 21 October to Wednesday 29 October, Glasstank Exhibition Space, Abercrombie Building.
An exhibition curated by Brookes Union to raise awareness of Black history, share powerful stories, and inspire reflection, collaboration and change within our student community.
Thursday 30 October, 6.00-9.00pm, Brookes Union Hall
A special performance by Oxford Brookes’ Chancellor and acclaimed actor and author Paterson Joseph.
An unmissable evening of storytelling with themes stemming from Ignatius Sancho’s 18th century letters intersecting with Paterson’s own story of growing up Black and British. This is a vital story connecting a Black life in the transatlantic world from nearly 300 years ago with a modern-day Black life in today’s UK.
Tickets for Oxford Brookes staff and the wider Oxford community will be released at 12 noon on Friday 3 October
To see the full list of Brookes Union events for Black History Month check out their website.
Throughout October and beyond, there will be other events and initiatives led by local organisations and community groups celebrating Black histories and creativity.
- 'Black Oxford Untold Stories' - Bus and Walking Tour
- 'DRUM' at the Old Fire Station, written by Jacob Roberts Mensah and directed by Sarah Amankwah
- 'Black Atlantic Abolitionist Movement in the Seventeenth Century, 147 years Before the British Slavery Act 1833', lecture at Kellogg College
- 'In a climate of fear of "the other" new leaders must emerge', lecture presented by Lord Simon Wooley at St John's College.
- COBO: Comedy Shutdown Black History Month Special, at Warwick Arts Centre
- Zadie Smith: Dead and Alive (author talk), at Sheldonian Theatre
The Staff Learning Portal hosts a range of eLearning courses on equality, diversity and inclusion topics. This includes modules to support awareness of race equity, tackling racial bias and related inclusive practice. All staff are encouraged to access these modules and increase their understanding and confidence in active anti-racism and allyship.
We welcome sharing and signposting to further resources to support Staff Learning and Development on race equity. Contact: EDIstaff@brookes.ac.uk
For Black History Month, explore the library's Anti-racism reading list for a collection of fiction, poetry, non-fiction books, and online resources relating to racism and anti-racism. Help us expand this list by emailing us with any suggestions.
If you want to learn more about Black history in Britain, browse the History of Black, Asian, and other ethnic minorities in Britain reading list. You can find all of these books and ebooks at the Oxford Brookes libraries. If you have any suggestions for this list, please contact us.