By Hannah
This post is a bit overdue, but back in October we teamed up with the BAME Staff Network at the University of Manchester to run a speaker and discussion event titled ’30 Years of Black History Month: Where are we now?’ You can read a report of the event from Berrisford Edwards, of the BAME Staff Network, below.
We commissioned artist Paul Gent to document the discussion. Looking through his sketches this afternoon has reminded me of just how intense and wide-ranging the discussion was that day, intensified by the noise of protesters outside the window, picketing the Conservative Party conference that was happening just over the road at the time.
Click on the images for a closer look…
Event report by Berrisford Edwards (originally published on the University of Manchester Library’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion blog)
I had the pleasure of attending the (now) annual Black History Month Event hosted by the University of Manchester Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network. This year saw a collaboration between the BAME Staff Network and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre (AIURRRC); and the event was held at the home of the AIURRRC – Manchester Central Library.
The event – titled “30 Years of Black History Month: Where are we now” started with registration, buffet lunch and networking from 12:30-13:00 and was very well attended notably by non-University affiliated individuals and organisations. Georgina Lewis – Co-chair of the University BAME Staff network alongside Dr Claire Fox – Academic Director for the AIURRRC gave a brief introduction. The welcome was then given by Prof James Thompson – Vice President for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester. Dr Kehinde Andrews – Associate Professor of Sociology at Birmingham City University was the keynote speaker. He gave a thought-provoking view and analysis of Black History and Black History Month from the perspective of both the University and the “Mother State”. This was followed by an engaging question and answer session.
After a short break, a panel discussion, chaired by Dr Hema Radhakrishnan – Associate Dean for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester was had. Panellists were: Elizabeth Cameron – North West Region’s Black Members Committee Unison Chair, Atiha Chaudry – Greater Manchester BME Network Chair, Deej Malik-Johnson – University of Manchester Students’ Union, Patrick Johnson – Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Manchester and Wilf Sullivan – TUC Race Equality Officer. A riveting and engaging session of question and answers ensued, which had to be abruptly terminated in the interest of time. Prof. Claire Alexander – Director of Social Responsibility for the School of Social Sciences at the University of Manchester gave the closing remarks.
There were exhibitions from the AIURRRC, the Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE), the LGBT foundation, as well as promotional material from other bodies; and representatives from across Higher Education Institutions, the public and private sector. The event was live tweeted using the hashtag: #UoMBHM30, photographed and curated by well-known documentary artist – Paul Gent.
Lewis Toumazou kindly photographed the event for us, read his reflections and see the photos here .
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