Black History Month

• Black Students' Mixer: Held in The Atrium, this was a chance  to meet fellow students who may share similar experiences, cultural backgrounds, and interests, and build lasting friendships in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
• Windrush Secret: A one-man drama by Rodreguez King-Dorset. Set in 2018, a young white far-right racist party leader, a Black Caribbean diplomat and a white Oxford educated Home Office government official prepare to give speeches on the same day, at different times, in separate locations about a million people who migrated from the Caribbean to Britain between 1948 and 1973, and the British political scandal which began in 2018. One of the men has a dark secret that he struggles to come to terms with during his fiery speech – it will change his life forever. This performance took place in the Lakeside Theatre.

• Black History Month Eat and Meet: Eat and meet sessions were hosted by our VP Welfare and VP Southend, delicious African and Caribbean food was served in honour of Black History Month. They were also on hand to answer and questions or concerns students may have about the cost-of-living crisis or uni life in general.  

• Black History Month SU Bar Takeover: The SU Bar was taken over in honour of Black History Month with a vibrant mix of R&B, hip-hop, Afrobeats, and reggae. 
• Blind Date with a Book: Celebrating Black Voices: This event celebrated the brilliance of Black authors and readers could discover stories that could surprise and inspire in ways you never imagined. This event was held at both the Southend and Colchester campuses.
• Black History Month Sip and Paint: Fun and creative BHM Sip & Paint sessions for new or experienced artists  were held so students could unwind with friends or meet new people.
• What Industry is your Future in? Black History Month Special: Students joined the 10,000 Interns Foundation to hear what they are looking for during their recruitment process and to hear about their current open opportunities. The 10,000 Interns Foundation also had a pop up on Square 3. 
• Essex Rebels Black History Celebration Game: An Essex Rebels Basketball Doubleheader was held at the Essex Sport Arena with the Essex Rebels Super League Basketball (SLB) Women facing off against the Nottingham Wildcats followed by the Essex Rebels D1 Men who took on the Nottingham Hoods. With live music, performances, and special moments,  the contributions of Black communities in the UK and worldwide were honoured. It was a celebration of Black heritage and a night of unity, pride and excitement.  
• Mine/Ors: Warimi Karogo, BA Drama 2024 alumni presented Mine/Ors: ManiKongo’s Truth. Set in the dark, claustrophobic confines of a hand-dug mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the play followed the harrowing journey of two child miners, Manny and Tyo, brothers who become trapped underground. As they struggle to find a way out, their bond and resilience are tested against the backdrop of exploitative mining practices rooted in colonialism. Mine/Ors is a powerful exploration of the adultification of Congolese children, brotherhood, love, hope and the quest for dignity amidst systemic oppression. This was performed in the Lakeside Theatre.
• Black History Month Quiz Night: The Quiz Night was all about fun, learning - and a bit of friendly competition. Open to everyone (and free entry!), this quiz covered a variety of topics, including history, music, sports, film, and TV.
• Black History Month 'Get Out' screening: A special free screening of Jordan Peele's ground breaking film, Get Out was held in Cine 10. Get Out follows Chris, a young Black man, as he visits the family of his white girlfriend for the first time. What begins as awkward small talk quickly spirals into a chilling, psychological thriller that unearths hidden tensions and tackle’s themes of race, privilege, and identity in a unique and unsettling way.

• Jerkpit Caribbean Pop-Up! The pop-up was held in the Lakeside Theatre Cafe from 2-9 October.
• Thriving Socially at University Workshop: Shomi Williams, a Psychological Therapist and founder of inclusive health education African and Caribbean groups platform, Lafiya Healthas delivered an exciting workshop in the Lakeside Theatre Studio, which aimed to help students thrive socially in a new environment.
• Fatherhood: The Lakeside Theatre hosted a play about three very different stories of being and having a dad which were centred around everyday, relatable experiences. The  original new work explored fatherhood across generations from the 1960s to the present day.
• Oedipus Electronica: Pecho Mama brough their modern-day, gig-theatre take on Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. It was a gripping gut-punch of a show, blending drama, dance and music which was both entirely original and true to the tragedy of its ancient antecedent.
• BAME Staff Forum: Black History Month Event 'Empowering the BAME Community through celebrating influential women'. Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu OM DBE FRCN was 'in conversation' virtually with Health and Social Care students and University of Essex Alumna Maxine Obeng told students and staff about her career journey and strategies.
• Access to Academic Careers for Black Researchers: University of Essex staff who have excelled in their respective academic fields shared their personal journeys, spoke about challenges they overcame, and provided valuable advice on navigating the academic landscape.
• Telling your own story: Nigerian-British performer, writer and educator, Tania Nwachukwu facilitated an intimate skills training workshop on telling your own story confidently. This was part of the Lakeside Theatre’s Black History Month “Celebrating the Sisterhood” programme. 
• Law student to theatre-maker alumni workshop: Ophelia, a University of Essex law graduate who dared to chase her dreams in the world of acting delivered a workshop in the Lakeside Theatre Studio for University of Essex students.
• Black Students Mixer: The Black Students Network presented their first community mixer of the year celebrating Colchester's Black student community's culture and heritage.
• You are African first before anything: University of Essex Law graduate-cum-successful theatre company operator, Ophelia Charlesworth, brought her much anticipated show to the Lakeside Theatre which was followed by a Q&A session. 
• His Story Her Story Their Story My Stories Your Stories Our Stories: The Centre for Trauma Asylum and Refugees (CTAR) and Refugee Care students within the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies joined an online discussion on telling our stories within Black History Month. This was hosted by Dr Zibiah Alfred Loakthar from the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies.
• The Little Mermaid: The Student's Union organised a screening of 'The Little Mermaid' in Cine 10.
• The Black Researchers’ Hub Social: The Black Researchers' Hub was launched in the Lakeside Theatre Studio.
• Raymond Antrobus - Poetry Reading: The British poet and writer who was born in Hackney, London, to a Jamaican father and a British mother gave a poetry reading. Raymond is author of ‘Shapes and Disfigurements’ (2012), ‘To Sweeten Bitter’ (2017), ‘The Perseverance’ (2018) and ‘All the Names Given’ (2021).
• Black History Month Quiz: A quiz was held in Top Bar hosted by VP Welfare - Nifemi.
• Centre for Public History Black History Month Seminar 2023: Professor Amilcar A. Pereira from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro gave a seminar on 'The Brazilian Black Movement and Education Struggles: Between History and Contemporary Challenges'. 
• Black History Month: Discussion Night: The Black Students Political Society and Essex End Everyday Racism Project held an open discussion.
• Blind Date with a Book: Library Services colleagues organised a pop-up Blind Date with a Book stall for Black History Month in the Albert Sloman Library. A limited number of titles were available to give away, all suggested by students and staff at Essex.
  

   

• A Fire in My Head: This exhibition, held in the Art Exchange, bought together stories from the life of the University of Essex, as defined by its students.

• A Fire in My Head Launch Party: A launch to celebrate the opening of  'A Fire in My Head'.
• Black Students Mixer: The Black Students Network held their first community mixer of the year with Jamane, Colchester’s Black Student Community Officer
• Centre for Public History Black History Month Public Lecture: Professor Lucy Bland (Anglia Ruskin University) gave a Black History Month public lecture on 'The War Babies of Black GIs and White British Women: racism, exclusion and the search; for belonging'.
• Energy: Carnival Edition!  Students partied the night away to their favourite R&B, Dancehall and Grime songs.
• Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship (CISC): Dr Jacqueline Sanchez-Taylor (Department of Law and Criminology, Royal Holloway, University of London) gave a seminar: ‘'Is it because I am black? Reflecting on Race, Sex and Gender in Research'.
• CINE10 - 42: Set in 1940's America, 42 follows the story of the great Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball.
• Open Mic Night: Held in the Lakeside Theatre for live performances such as comedians, singers and poets.
• Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Forum Launch: The launch was held on Wednesday 26 October in the Lakeview Room.
• Centre for Public History Black History Month: Chiara Candaele gave a Black History Month seminar on 'Resolution Metris: A governmental inquiry into forced separations of mixed-race minors in Belgian Africa (1885 1962)'.
• Black History Month: Town Hall Event held on Wednesday 26 October in the Atrium. 
• CINE10 - The Help:  Set in 1960's at the heart of the Civil rights movement in Mississippi, The Help is the story of aspiring Writer Skeeter (Emma Stone) and her book detailing the African American maids' point of view of the white families they work for, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

• Breaking the Silence Tour: An immersive performance written and directed by Dr Holly Maples, educator and scholar at the University of Essex and Dr Inge Dornan, Historian at Brunel University London designed to raise awareness of the 18th Century Slave Trade in Britain and celebrate 18th century Black British Abolitionists.
• Breathing the Light: The exhibition showcased work by some of the most exciting and thought-provoking artists working in the UK today, including Larry Achiampong, Emma Hart, Daniel and Clara, Joy Labinjo, Urara Tsuchiya, Barbara Walker and Caroline Walker.
• Breathing the Light Launch Party: We raised a glass to the artists in the exhibition who utilised creativity as an act of resistance as they looked afresh at the world around us during these unprecedented times.
• Lakeside Theatre-Audition workshops: BAFTA nominated and award-winning actress and playwright Yolanda Mercy does 6 weeks of audition workshops.
• New Voices in Black British History: The Centre for Public History invited three of the most exciting new voices in Black British History to participate in a roundtable.
• Breathing the Light-Curator's Tour: Curator Jess Twyman did a live online tour of Breathing the Light, expanding on the themes and ideas behind the artworks on show.
• Navigating the challenges of Higher Education: the lived experiences of Black academics
• Black Primed Market: A showcase of Black-owned businesses: Essex Students’ Union Present Black Primed, a showcase of Black-owned businesses coming to Colchester campus.
• Black Primed: An exhibition that brings together Black artists working in Britain today.
• Participatory theatre and production of cultures of equality with and by sex workers in Cape Town: An insightful seminar with Dr Phoebe Kisubi at the Centre for intimate and sexual citizenship.
• Spotlight on: Ellis George: She spoke about what it was like to be a part of such a pivotal film for Black Brits, as it highlighted a forgotten part of history. 
• A Black Renaissance (1924-1930): Reimagined Futures and Pasts: Dr Jak Peake examined the ways that a Black-led Renaissance in literature and the arts was conceived and its repercussion for conceptions of Black history.
• Cine10 Presents: Moonlight: A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.
• Breathing the Light – Artist's Talk with Joy Labinjo and Larry Achiampong: They both showed work in the exhibition Breathing the Light- they expanded on the inspiration behind their work.
• Race, Gender and Policing: An insightful online seminar with Professor Aisha K. Gill PhD CBE at the Centre of Criminology.

Events in Colchester and the surrounding areas

• Essex Cultural Diversity Project: ECDP is supporting Black History Month.
• Colchester Black History Month – Public Opening Day: One Colchester Community Hub shopfront had art exhibits, presentations, talks, "Live" Music and displays for all of the community.
• Mercury Theatre-Antigone: The modern retelling of the classic Greek tragedy is a powerful thriller whose poetic passion transcends time.
• Firstsite Black History Month Community Day Celebration: Hosted Black History Month Colchester 2021 for a day of celebrations and entertainment.
• Black Lives Matters – The Art of Protest: Placards and Pens: Curated by trustee, Sophie Kabangu, The Art of Protest brings together over a hundred of the placards created for the Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
• Colchester Black History Month - The Festival of Navaratri: Navaratri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is celebrated every year in the autumn. 
• Colchester Black History Month – ‘The Spoken Word’: An evening of music and entertainment in the new bar and restaurant at The Mercury, with Omar Aziz, Antony Woodley and Poet Lawrence Savage.
• Colchester Black History Month @ One Colchester Community Hub Youth Activities – Learn to Draw: Learn to Draw is a fun tutorial for young people to try easy techniques to learn and to improve their creative talents. 
• Colchester Black History Month - The Prevention of Suicide Amongst Black Men – “A Time to Talk”: Black History Colchester and African Families in a UK Zoom meeting that aims to bring together Black men for “A Time to Talk.” 
• Colchester Black History Month - AFiUK Community Surgery @ One Colchester Community Hub: Hosted the African Families in the UK Staff and volunteers to provide a community advice surgery.
• Colchester Black History Month – Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories art installation video tour: Tilbury Bridge Walkway is an iconic location which has an historic significance to the Black community in Britain. 
• Colchester Black History Month – Domino Tournament: The first, Colchester Caribbean Elders “V” Southend Caribbean community group “Dominoes Tournament” for all of the community.
• Black History Month Dovercourt and Harwich: Why do we celebrate Black History Month and the arrival of Empire Windrush to Tilbury, Essex with power points, slide shows and video.
• Colchester Black History Month – The Ambassador book launch at Firstsite: The official launch of a new publication “The Ambassador” by Author Rachel Walton.
• Colchester Black History Month @ One Colchester Community Hub Youth activities - ‘Stop and Search – Know Your Rights’: The understanding of your individual rights and the correct procedures that a police officer should comply to when executing Stop and Search. 
• Colchester Black History Month – Celebrating Tubby Hayes screening: Celebrating the talents of the late, great Tubby Hayes, Firstsite screened ‘Tubby Hayes: A Man in a Hurry’.
• Colchester Black History Month – Celebrating Tubby Hayes concert: Celebrating Tubby Hayes: The Simon Spillett Quartet at the Colchester Arts Centre.
• Black History Month Clacton: Why do we celebrate Black History Month and the arrival of Empire Windrush to Tilbury, Essex with power points, slide shows and video.
• The UK Black Business Show 2021: The show will highlighted the achievements and contributions Black businesses have made to the economy.

• Spotlight on Natalya Martin, Sensory Theatre Practitioner: Discussion and Q&A with Natalya about navigating the creative arts industry and space as black artists.
• Spotlight on Andrea Lungay, Co-founder and Director of HiddenViewz Productions: Discussion about navigating the theatre industry as a Director and Producer.
• Essex South Asia Research Network (ESARN) Symposium: Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Lives: Indo-Caribbean, Black and British
• After Essex: In Conversation with Whitney Joseph: Law graduate Whitney Joseph discusses her journey after Essex.
• Decolonizing the History Curriculum: A Discussion between staff and students: How we can better represent diverse writers, scholars and perspectives in our History curriculum.
• Spotlight on Rakaya Fetuga: 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.
• Being Black at Essex: Essex students and alumni discuss their experiences of being Black at Essex.
• 10 v 10: Afro-Caribbean Music Clash
• Department of Sociology - Claudia Jones: A Woman of Our Times: A film about the Trinidadian activist who started the Notting Hill Carnival.
• Law Matters: Black Lives Matter: An opportunity to engage with the critical issues of the day in the field of law.
• Artists Talk by Larry Achiampong and David Blandy: Film screening of ‘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.
• Department of History Research Seminar – Theatre, Teaching, and the Slave Trade: Dr Jeremy Krikler explores the problems and opportunities of using a research-driven play in teaching the slave trade.
• From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century: William Darity Jr and A. Kirsten Mullen speak about their book and their work on reparation for Black Americans.
• Spotlight on Ahmad Iklhas: A discussion about navigating the creative arts industry and space as black artists.
• Fresh Takes @EssexGov: Black Lives Matter: SU Black Community Officer and Law student Andrea Curtis interviews Dr Andrea Benjamin, scholar of race, politics and public opinion.
• Words with: Lela Burbridge: Lela shares 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.
• Gaming Night with Larry Achiampong and David Blandy: Artists Larry Achiampong and David Blandy host a special gaming night session in which they battle it out on the popular Nintendo game Splatoon 2.
• Finding out about Frantz Fanon: Colin Samson and Jak Peake discuss the politically radical writing of Frantz Fanon.
• Professor Tommy Curry, University of Edinburgh: ‘Decolonizing the Intersection: Black Male Studies as a Critique of Intersectionality's Indebtedness to Subculture of Violence Theory’: Philosophy and Art History Research Seminar.
• A Lament for Power: Larry Achiampong and David Blandy: This 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.
• Finding Fanon: Larry Achiampong and David Blandy: 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.
• Human Rights Speaker Series: Black Lives Matter and Human Rights: Sophie Kabangu and Dr Kojo Koram explore current and emerging issues and challenges surrounding Black Lives Matter and Human Rights.

Ipswich Museum Decolonisation + Democratisation live-streams

• Decolonisation + Democratisation: Historian, comedian, writer and museum curator, Subhadra Das talks to the Art’s Council’s, Liam Wiseman.
• Reinterpretating Regions: We delve into the place-based projects ‘Snapping the Stiletto’ and the Museum of London’s, ‘Curating London’.
• Community Created Permanent Displays: Manchester Museums and the Science Museum talk through their experiences, as they went from community contribution to co-creation.
• Beyond the Museum’s Walls: Through loans and international partnerships, the Courtauld Institute and Brighton and Hove Museums take us further afield.
• Sharing Power: 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: We welcome back all our speakers, as Subhadra Das chairs a wrap-up roundtable.

Colchester and surrounding areas

• Essex Cultural Diversity Project: A range of events taking place across Essex, organised by their friends and collaborators.
• Windrush pop-up exhibition: Colchester Castle displays 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.
• Black History Month at the British Library: A range of events reflecting the history, lives and contributions of people of African and Caribbean descent.
• Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex: Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities, an interview with a local Colchester student and music from DJ Michelle Lu-Hang.
• Mercury Online - Black, Essex and Here 2.0: 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?
• Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex: Hi-lites of BHM activities, an interview with Black Lives Matter Colchester Chairperson and Lead Activist, Sophie Kabangu and music from Michelle and Sydney.
• Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex: Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities, an interview with student and LGBTQ activist Racheale Fontenella with music from Michelle and Craig.
• Colchester Black History Month – Prevention of Suicide amongst Black Men: A closer look at mental health issues in BAME communities with guest speakers.
• Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex: Hi-lites of BHM Colchester activities and an interview with Educator and Entrepreneur Godwin Daudu.
• Colchester Black History Month – Being Black in Essex: 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.