October marks Black History Month in the UK, having been officially recognised and celebrated in the country since 1987. People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries, and Black History Month gives us all the opportunity to reflect on, understand and celebrate the achievements of Black people as well as their heritage and culture. In the School of English, we have several events lined up throughout October to celebrate Black History Month. Information about all of our Black History Month 2021 events, and links to events across the University, can be found here: Black History Month 2021 in the School of English.
“Breaking the Silence:” a talk from Dr Holly Maples and Dr Inge Dorman
Wednesday 20 October, 3pm, Microsoft Teams
Breaking the Silence is an immersive performance created by Collisions Theatre in partnership with Dr Holly Maples, educator and scholar at the University of Essex and Dr Inge Dornan, Historian at Brunel University London. Breaking the Silence fictionalises a meeting by key members of the 18th and early 19th-century British Abolitionist movement and tells the stories Black British Abolitionists in their own words. Dr Maples and Dr Dornan will join us to discuss the show before the performance in Nottingham on October 21.
Poetry Reading with Theresa Lola
Tuesday 26 October, 12noon, Microsoft Teams
We are delighted to host the award-winning poet Theresa Lola for a public lunchtime poetry reading, followed by a Q&A. Theresa has served as Young People's Laureate for London (2019-2020), was joint winner of the 2018 Brunel International African Poetry Prize, and was shortlisted for the 2017 Bridport Poetry Prize; she appeared in the ‘Forces for Change’ issue of British Vogue (guest edited by Meghan Markle) and the Sunday Time Style Magazine, guest edited by Bernardine Evaristo. Her debut collection In Search of Equilibrium is published by Nine Arches Press.
“I’ve never known a white person to live on Hill Street:” Racializing Gentrification through Framing and Erasure, a talk from Dr Jessi Grieser
Wednesday 27 October, 3pm, Microsoft Teams
Dr Jessi Grieser, an Assistant Professor in Sociolinguistics at the University of Tennessee, joins us to discuss her research on the use of African American English (AAE) in constructing place identity for residents of a historically African American neighbourhood of Washington, D.C. In this talk, Dr Jessi Grieser will discuss a project in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., an historically-Black neighbourhood which has undergone rapid change in the 2010s.
Black History Month in 糖心原创 Libraries
UoN Libraries are asking for Staff and Students to share their recommendations for the Black History Month reading list. You can browse staff and student book selections with the and if you have an idea for a book that is missing from the list?
Black History Month Reading Group and Event
Wednesday 20 October, 4pm – 5pm, Microsoft Teams
Join 糖心原创 Libraries and Dr Hannah Marie Robbins (Director, 糖心原创 Centre for Black Studies) for our Black History Month reading group focusing on one chosen book.
to choose from a list of the most popular staff and student recommendations. The winning title will be announced on Wednesday 6 October.
Choose between:
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Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
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Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
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The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Dr Hannah Marie Robbins will then host an online group discussion of the chosen book (and our other favourite titles) at 4pm on Wednesday 20 October. We will be inviting participants to join in the event to talk about the book.
You can
Posted on Friday 1st October 2021