Welcome to Black History Month at Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway is strengthened by diversity, and welcome students and academics who travel from all over the world to study and work here, ensuring an international and multi-cultural perspective within a close knit and historic campus. To celebrate our diverse community, we'll be taking part in the Black History Month campaign this month.
One of the aims of Black History Month is to celebrate the achievements of members of ethnic minority communities in Britain, including unsung heroes who have helped change the political, cultural and social landscape. Black History Month is a celebration of diversity, but also a reminder of the inequality that still exists. It is an opportunity to work towards ensuring that we expand our awareness of history, expose and question dominant representations of our past that have remained largely unchallenged, and provide a platform for marginalised voices.
Our campaign will focus on our inspirational alumni and we will also be profiling member of ethnic communities who our staff and students are inspired by. If you would like to let us know who inspires you please download this placard and fill out as in the below pictures.
We'll celebrate Black History Month with a range of events listed below.
| What | When / where | Details |
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| Display hosted by the Department of English, celebrating BME creative writers and showcasing the Department’s diverse curriculum. |
1 - 31 October |
Come and see the display in the Department of English, celebrating BME creative writers who are associated with Royal Holloway and the College’s diverse curriculum. The space will showcase texts taught at the College by BME authors and those that deal with Black history. Texts will be accompanied by short posts explaining what they are and why they are important to teach. |
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| Recordings of Royal Holloway academics talking about the significance of celebrating Black History Month. |
1 - 31 October |
Listen to staff from Royal Holloway talk about the significance of celebrating Black History Month. |
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| BME Networking event for post-doctoral researchers and PhD students (all ethnicities welcome!) |
October 18, 12.30pm - 2pm, Moore Annexe 34 |
If you are a PhD student or a Post-Doc, come and hear academics talk about their academic journeys, including enablers and barriers, followed by networking |
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| David Olusoga talk |
October 27, 5.30pm, Moore Auditorium |
Eminent historian David Olusoga, author of Black and British: A Forgotten History and presenter of the corresponding BAFTA award-winning four-part BBC series, will talk about 2,000 years of Black British History. See here for further information. |
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| Book launch: Lynette Goddard |
October 18, 5.30pm, Caryl Churchill Theatre |
Dr Lynette Goddard, Reader in Black Theatre and Performance (Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance) will talk about her new publication Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl. London Routledge. Moon on a Rainbow Shawl was one of the first plays by a Black Caribbean playwright to be produced on the London stage and it has become the most revived black play in Britain. |
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For more information on Black History Month see here.
If you are a member of staff at Royal Holloway and are interested in receiving our upcoming Equality & Diversity at Royal Holloway newsletter, which will contain updates on all aspects of E&D activities taking place at Royal Holloway (including staff networks, upcoming staff consultation opportunities, E&D events and more) please email Katerina.finnisroyalholloway.ac.uk.