Being Black at Essex

This year, in celebration of our BAME community during Black History Month, the University of Essex Alumni Team are hosting a free online panel discussion event to discuss experiences of being Black at Essex in the past and present, and to share ideas around how universities like Essex can and should move forward.

Alumni and student panellists will give a snapshot of their time at Essex, including how they felt when they first arrived at the University, whether they were or are involved in any societies or campaigns of the time and what the general mood was or is.

The event aims to provide a platform for an honest conversation about panellist’s experiences, sharing highlights from their time at Essex as well as how racism has affected them. 

The panel will be chaired by Dr Jak Peake. Panellists include:

• Samira Diebire, International Relations student and former Black Student Community Officer
• Zechariah Sedziafa-McFarlane, Economics and Politics student and former Welfare Officer for The Black Social & Political Society
• Angela Muruli (BSc Biomedical Science, 2016), Junior Programme Analyst and International United Nations Volunteer at the UN Women Country Office in Nigeria
• Sonny Onyegbula (LLM International Human Rights Law, 1999), Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

This event is open to both alumni and current University of Essex students.

Have a question for the panellists? Send your questions in advance to alumni@essex.ac.uk or ask on the day using the Q&A function.