Black History Month with Marie
Hey, It’s Marie – I’m back again with another Officer Blog. If you don’t already know, October marks Black History Month. Here at JMSU we are highlighting, educating and inspiring students to get involved with our Black History Month events, check out our list of resources and contact us for further information or support.
This national event is extremely important for everyone to learn and celebrate black culture past and present, as well as its high influence on society today, especially here in Liverpool.
Did you know…?
Liverpool was the European leading Slave Trave port and made £300,000 a year profit? It’s important for us to learn the city’s dark history so we can learn, educate, and evolve. I’m sure you’ve been to the Royal Albert Dock? Here, you will find the Maritime Slavery Museum. This is a good resource hub to learn more about Liverpool’s history -for free. Join us on Tuesday the 18 October as JMSU will be leading the “Anti-Slavery Day: Liverpool’s Dark History Walk” trip to discover Liverpool’s history and learn more about it. Make sure to book your free ticket today!
What else can I get invovled in?
This is the first of many events JMSU will be hosting, join us for our Coffee, Cake, and Change Things: Decolonise the Curriculum working group, Speak Out! Stop Hate workshop and the Don’t Touch My hair event, championed by myself and your VP Education Shaquita. Often stigmatised, we aim to embrace black hair instead, sharing experiences and celebrating it. We will also be offering up some delicious, FREE Caribbean food afterwards – I can’t wait. We also have a very exciting opportunity to win some prizes over the next few weeks too, so keep an eye out on JMSU socials so you can win…
Not only will be we highlighting events for all students to attend, but we also have some cool resources, from books to Instagram accounts, podcasts to TV shows and films: we have you covered. Make sure to check out LJMULibrary as they have ample amounts of resources.
In November, LJMU’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team will be hosting an event opening with Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson; ‘Inclusivity Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Next steps for tangible inclusion’. Guest speakers include the Chris Lubbe; Nelson Mandela’s former bodyguard, Anyika Onuoura; Team GB Global Sprint Medalist, and writer of the popular book ‘My Hidden Race’ (Anyika is also LJMU honorary fellow), Professor Jason Arday; Youngest Black Professor in the UK and David Mba; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise, University of the Arts London. I highly recommend that you attend! You can check out further details about Black History Month, the EDI team’s approach to celebrating it and more information about the event on LJMU’s dedicated page.
Groups
Don’t forget to check out our society and community groups where you can join groups like Afro-Caribbean Society, the Cultural Society, Ethnically Diverse Students’ Community, and many more. Can’t see a group you’d like to be a part of? No worries! You can get in touch and start up your very own student-led group today.
In the City
There are a lot of events happening around the city as well, make sure to check out Culture Liverpool, Black Fest and follow me! Throughout October and beyond I will be highlighting events and places in and around the city that embrace and celebrate black culture.
I want to finish my blog with an open invite to all students and staff of LJMU staff to our events. We want this to be an inclusive, interactive, respectful, and safe space for everyone to learn from it…whether you are Black or not, you’re more than welcome to join, learn, have fun and make friends! I hope to see you at some or all our events, it will be great to get to know you.
Happy Black History Month to you all and remember, BHM goes beyond just this month!
Marie 😊
