Black History Month

Black History Month in Library and Cultural Services

To celebrate Black History Month we have created this reading list. It's full of classics, modern classics and factual works by black authors or about black history.

We have added in some interesting video accompaniments to our reading list, which you can view on Box of Broadcasts (available free of charge for all current University of Essex staff and students).

Previous University events

Spotlight on Natalya Martin, Sensory Theatre Practitioner

Wednesday 14 October, 7pm-8pm

Discussion and Q&A with Natalya about navigating the creative arts industry and space as black artists.

•  Find out more
  
  

Spotlight on Andrea Lungay, Co-founder and Director of HiddenViewz Productions

Friday 16 October, 7pm

Discussion about navigating the theatre industry as a Director and Producer.

Find out more about the event on the Students’ Union webpage

Essex South Asia Research Network (ESARN)

Monday 19 October, 4.00pm-5.30pm

Online Symposium celebrating Black History Month 2020 - Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Lives:  Indo-Caribbean, Black and British

This event will focus on the intertwined histories of people of Asian and Black heritage in the Caribbean. The panel consists of distinguished scholars of Caribbean studies and University of Essex students of Asian and Black heritage

• Find out more about the Symposium
  
  

After Essex: In Conversation with Whitney Joseph

Tuesday 20 October, 5pm-6pm

We'll be joined by law graduate Whitney Joseph to discuss her journey after Essex.

• Watch this webinar

Decolonizing the History Curriculum: A Discussion between staff and students

Tuesday 20 October, 6pm-7.30pm

Please join us for a conversation about how we can better represent diverse writers, scholars and perspectives in our History curriculum. We want to engage our whole community—staff and students—to discuss this work, and start to create a reading list, and nurture further discussions, for all.

• Join the conversation
  
  

Spotlight on Rakaya Fetuga

Wednesday 21 October, 7pm-midnight

Rakaya Fetuga is a poet from London of Ghanaian and Nigerian heritage. Her work joins conversations on overlapping identities, faith and culture as self-affirmation.

• Join the webinar
  
  

Being Black at Essex

Thursday 22 October, 7pm-8.30pm

Essex students and alumni discuss their experiences of being Black at Essex.

• Watch this webinar

10 v 10: Afro-Caribbean Music Clash

Friday 23 October, 7pm-midnight

• Find out more
  
  

Department of Sociology - Claudia Jones: A Woman of Our Times

Tuesday 27 October, 2pm-3pm

Join Dr Alexandra Cox, Dr Jak Peake and Nosa Imaghodo for a film screening and discussion on 'Claudia Jones: A Woman of Our Times'. A film about the Trinidadian activist who started the Notting Hill Carnival.

• Find out more about how to watch the screening and join the discussion

Law Matters: Black Lives Matter

Tuesday 27 October, 5pm-7pm

The Law Matters Seminar Series gives you the opportunity to engage with the critical issues of the day in the field of law. Our Law School Community encourages critical, innovative and forward-thinking and this series of lectures provides a space for students to broaden their views and discuss the issues that really matter. This session is held in partnership with Southern New Hampshire University.

• Find out more about the event and how to register

Artists Talk by Larry Achiampong and David Blandy

Tuesday 27 October, 6pm-7pm

Art Exchange
Larry Achiampong and David Blandy will screen their latest film ‘A Lament for Power’, followed by a conversation with film critic Ashley Clark. Together they discuss relationship between race and the structures of power that underpin our society.

• Register for this event

Department of History Research Seminar – Theatre, Teaching, and the Slave Trade

Wednesday 28 October, 4pm-6pm

Dr Jeremy Krikler explores the problems and opportunities of using a research-driven play in teaching the slave trade.

• Register for this seminar

From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century

Wednesday 28 October, 6pm

As part of the Essex Explores series, please join us to hear William Darity Jr, and A. Kirsten Mullen speak about their book and their work on reparation for Black Americans, which will be followed by a question and answer session led by Clara Sandoval, from our School of Law, Human Rights Centre and Essex Transitional Justice Network.

• Watch a recording of this webinar

Spotlight on Ahmad Iklhas

Wednesday 28 October, 7pm-midnight

Find out more about Ahmad and join the discussion about navigating the creative arts industry and space as black artists.

• Join the discussion
  
  

Fresh Takes @EssexGov: Black Lives Matter

Friday 30 October, 3.30pm

Come and join a live-streamed event with Dr Andrea Benjamin, scholar of race, politics and public opinion, as she is interviewed by the SU's own Andrea Curtis, Law student and SU Black Community Officer. Hosted by the Department of Government.

• Register in advance for this webinar (you must use your @essex.ac.uk email address for registration)

Words with: Lela Burbridge

Friday 30 October, 7pm

Lela will be sharing the lessons learned in her book ‘Lela: Ashes of Childhood’ which journeys through her formative years in Uganda as a child before moving to the United Kingdom as a teenager. Lela joins us to discuss her life before, during and after Essex that led to her career as a formidable author. This event is in collaboration with the University of Essex Albert Sloman Library.

• Watch a recording of this webinar

Gaming Night with Larry Achiampong and David Blandy

Tuesday 4 November, 6pm-8pm

Art Exchange

Join artists Larry Achiampong and David Blandy for a special gaming night session in which the artists will battle it out on the popular Nintendo game Splatoon 2.

• Find out more

Finding out about Frantz Fanon

Tuesday 10 November, 6pm-7pm

Join Colin Samson and Jak Peake for an evening of discussion on the politically radical writing of Frantz Fanon.

• Find out more about the event and how to register

Professor Tommy Curry, University of Edinburgh: ‘Decolonizing the Intersection: Black Male Studies as a Critique of Intersectionality's Indebtedness to Subculture of Violence Theory’

Thursday 12 November, 3pm-5pm

The Philosophy and Art History Research Seminar meets weekly in term on Thursday afternoons to discuss a paper by a visiting philosopher, art historian, or a member of our academic staff.

• Find out more about the event and how to register

A Lament for Power: Larry Achiampong and David Blandy 

From 6 October – 14 November 2020

Art Exchange

This ambitious new film explores the ethics of scientific discovery and the complex relationship between science, politics and race in our age of avatars, video gaming and DNA Ancestry testing.

• Find out more about the exhibition 
  
  

Finding Fanon: Larry Achiampong and David Blandy 

From 6 October – 14 November 2020

Art Exchange

We showcase Larry Achiampong and David Blandy's seminal Finding Fanon trilogy, inspired by the lost plays of Frantz Fanon (1925-1961), a politically radical writer whose work explores the trauma of colonialism and decolonisation.

• Find out more about the exhibition 
  
  

Human Rights Speaker Series: Black Lives Matter and Human Rights

Monday 7 December, 4pm-5pm

This seminar event hosted by the Human Rights Centre will be explored by our guest speakers Sophie Kabangu and Dr Kojo Koram on current and emerging issues and challenges surrounding Black Lives Matter and Human Rights.

Find out more and register for this webinar

Ipswich Museum Decolonisation + Democratisation live-streams

Their seminar series exploring decolonisation and democratisation starts with a series of live-streams on their YouTube channel. You can find all the details about the Decolonisation + Democratisation conference. The seminars are as listed below and can be live streamed or watched at a later time on their YouTube channel

Decolonisation + Democratisation

Wednesday 4 November, 12.30pm – 1.20pm

Historian, comedian, writer and museum curator, Subhadra Das talks to the Art’s Council’s, Liam Wiseman.

Reinterpretating Regions

Wednesday 11 November, 1.30pm – 2.30pm

We delve into the place-based projects ‘Snapping the Stiletto’ and the Museum of London’s, ‘Curating London’.

Community Created Permanent Displays

Wednesday 18 November, 6 – 7pm

Manchester Museums and the Science Museum talk through their experiences, as they went from community contribution to co-creation

Beyond the Museum’s Walls

Wednesday 25 November, 1.30 – 2.30pm

Through loans and international partnerships, the Courtauld Institute and Brighton and Hove Museums take us further afield.

Sharing Power

Wednesday 2 December, 6 – 7.15pm

Ipswich Museums, the South London Gallery and York Museums Trust reveal some of the hidden and, often hard histories being brought to the fore.

All together now

Wednesday 9 December, 1.30 – 2.30pm

We welcome back all our speakers, as Subhadra Das chairs a wrap-up roundtable.

Upcoming events in Southend

In celebration of Black History Month, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council are proud to share events and stories organized by groups across the Borough.  Find out more about film screenings organized by Focal Point Gallery, the ‘Celebration of Black Lives’ organized by the Southend Youth Council and the programme of events, videos, stories and links hosted on the One Southend platform.

Visit the Southend-on-Sea Borough Council website to find out about all of these events and more.

Upcoming events in Colchester and the surrounding areas

Essex Cultural Diversity Project

ECDP is supporting Black History Month this October 2020. There are a number of events taking place across Essex, organised by their friends and collaborators. Please visit their webpage to find out more.

Windrush pop-up exhibition

Visit Colchester Castle to view a display which includes banners from the Essex Cultural Diversity Project detailing information about the early days of the ship, the voyage and life in Britain for those that arrived by the ship as well as their descendants. It explores their cultural contribution as well as the discrimination experienced by many.

• Find out more

Black History Month at the British Library

All year round the British Library host a wide range of events reflecting the history, lives and contributions of people of African and Caribbean descent.

• Find out more

Previous events 

Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex

Friday 16 October, 8pm-9.30pm

Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities, an interview with a local Colchester student and music from DJ Michelle Lu-Hang.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event

Mercury Online - Black, Essex and Here 2.0

Monday 19 October, 7.30pm

We are creatives, we are from Essex and we are black and we’ll be asking where do we fit in? Where are the stories in live-performance that reflect our Essex heritage and experience?

• Find out more

Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex

Tuesday 20 October, 8pm-9.30pm

Hi-lites of BHM activities, an interview with Black Lives Matter Colchester Chairperson and Lead Activist, Sophie Kabangu and music from Michelle and Sydney.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event

Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex

Friday 23 October, 8pm-9.30pm

Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities, an interview with student and LGBTQ activist Racheale Fontenella with music from Michelle and Craig.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event

Colchester Black History Month – Prevention of Suicide amongst Black Men

Saturday 24 October, 8pm-9.30pm

A closer look at mental health issues in BAME communities with guest speakers.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event

Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex

Monday 26 October, 8pm-9.30pm

Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities and an interview with Educator and Entrepreneur Godwin Daudu.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event

Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex

Thursday 29 October, 8pm-9.30pm

Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities and an interview with the Chair of the Minority Ethnic Support Association and the General Secretary of the Black Police Association. Mac Neife. With music by Omar Aziz.

• Visit Colchester Black History for details of how to join this online event