October is an important time to recognise the contributions of Black people to society and their impact on our history and culture. This year, we are celebrating Black History Month in our community with a programme of events especially curated for this month, while also acknowledging that this is an ongoing movement, and take this opportunity to remind ourselves to amplify Black voices beyond one month each year.
Events on our campuses
This year’s theme is ‘Saluting our Sisters’, so most of our highlighted events below have a special focus on the achievements of Black women:
| Black women in health
Wednesday 11 October, 18:00-19:45, Centenary Building, Highfield Campus Join Dr Ria Clarke, Priscilla Vivian and Esmé Ara’resa as they discuss their experiences navigating the healthcare system and improving healthcare for Black women. |
| Free Afro dance classes: Street Dance Society (SUSU)
Wednesday 11 and 25 October, 16:00-17:00, Multi-Purpose Studio, B42 (SUSU), Highfield Campus Sign up via the @USDstreet Instagram account on the Monday before class. |
| In conversation with Pascal Matthias
Thursday 12 October, 15:00-16:00, Winchester School of Art Join our Associate Vice-President for EDI and Social Justice, Pascal Matthias, for an open, informal conversation reflecting on the University’s progress towards becoming a more diverse, inclusive community and where we need to do more. |
| Union Films: Watch BlaKkKlansman (SUSU)
Friday 13 October 20:00-23:30, The Cube, Highfield Campus |
| Black talent in business and leadership
Wednesday 18 October 18:00-19:30, Highfield Campus Join Avila Chidume, founder of the inclusive greeting cards business Avila.Diana, as she hosts a panel of Black entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-up founders. |
| Black History Month Cultural Festival (SUSU)
Thursday 19 October 15:00-19:00, The Redbrick and SUSU Building 42, Highfield Campus Organised by the African and Caribbean Society and The Black Women’s Project, the Black History Month Cultural Festival is a time to celebrate and learn about a range of Black cultures. |
| Mother Tongue Poetry Evening
Monday 23 October, 18:30-20:00, Below Deck, SUSU Building 42, Highfield Campus Join Arts Council-funded literature and art project Bridges not Borders and our English Department for a relaxed evening where you can share poetry in your mother tongue. You can read work from a poet you love, read your own writing in your mother tongue, and even write something together. |
| In conversation with poet Kaycee Hill
Wednesday 24 October 18:00-19:30, Sir James Matthews Building, Guildhall Square Join this special evening with James Berry Poetry Prize winner, Kaycee Hill, as she reads some works from her hotly anticipated debut collection, Hot Sauce, published this month. A Q&A will follow the reading. |
| Black Girl Detox
Thursday 26 October 18:00-20:00, The Design Chapel, Cemetery Road Hosted by Toluwa Atilade, a diversity and allyship consultant, campaigner and writer, the Black Girl Detox is an interactive, educational and fun space for Black women and their allies. |
| In conversation with Rising Star winner Tolúlopé Ògúnremí
Monday 30 October 18:00-19:00, Online Tolúlopé Ògúnremí is the founder of Coders with Colour – an organisation aimed at empowering and enabling young underrepresented people of colour to pursue a career in tech. Less than five years since graduating from Southampton, she was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 listings in the Social Impact category, and won the Rising Star Outstanding Alumni Award. The event will be hosted by Pascal Matthias, Associate VP EDI and Social Justice. |
Our Students’ Union have more events and useful resources on their Black History Month campaign webpage.
Events in our local community
Black History Month events taking place across the local Southampton community include:
| Fetissoes by Kialy Tihngang
Friday 6 October- Sunday 12 November, God’s House Tower, Southampton This free exhibition features work by artist Kialy Tihngang, which speculates that a group of enslaved African people combined European maritime technology with fetishes (African religious objects with magical powers) to create tools for a safe return home from their captors’ ship. |
| Windrush Portraits Open until Thursday 30 November, across Southampton and Level 4 Hartley Library GalleryPart of a wider project in collaboration with Black Archive South aiming to preserve the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK, and mark Windrush 75, photographer Nosa Malcom took portraits of local community members. |
| Show Me The World Mister by Ayo Akingbade
Open until 7 October, John Hansard Gallery This exhibition features two new film commissions: The Fist and Faluyi. Both films were shot in Nigeria and explore Akingbade’s interest in history, placemaking, legacy, and power. |
| Saluting our Sisters! Celebrating Women of Colour
Thursday 12 October, Southampton Central Library Join writer Simon Hudson as he explores intriguing stories honouring the significant achievements of women of colour, taking highlights from his books History Through the Black Experience. |
| Black Stories Screening
Monday 23 October, 18:30, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton This will be an evening telling the stories of phenomenal women from Southampton’s African, Caribbean and Black British communities through three-minute mobile videos produced, filmed and edited by the storytellers themselves. |
360 Degrees podcast – Black History Month edition
Listen to the new episode of the 360 Degrees podcast, where host Emily Harrison is joined by Southampton alum Marcia Ore, who shares her previous experiences as a Black woman working in the police force and talks about the transformative work she has done.
Listen to the special Black History Month episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Resources
- Explore the Black Voices Reading List, curated by our Library team, by selecting Black Voices in the Table of Contents section.
- Learn more about our work of The Awarding Gap project, which most recently includes the Black Freshers’ Guide.
- Black Archives South is a resource library dedicated to telling the history of Black people in Southampton.
How you can contribute
- Active Bystander Training – attend a free online session to help equip you with techniques to tackle challenging situations and harmful behaviour. The first session is on Wednesday 18 October, 16:00-17:00. For all future sessions, please check the My Southampton app.
- The Union Black Course gives you the tools you need to inform, challenge and contribute to the anti-racism agenda.
How to get support
- The Student Hub are here to help you 24/7, 365 days a year, with any questions and concerns relating to your wellbeing, as well as fees, financial support, accommodation, disability, careers and course administration.
- Report and Support – use this tool to let us know if you, or someone you know, has experienced incidents of discrimination, harassment, or other unacceptable behaviour. An advisor will get in touch to offer specialist support and guidance.
- The United Voice of African Association (TUVVA) is an umbrella organisation for Africans living in Southampton and the surrounding areas, providing wellbeing support and opportunities to share cultures and traditions.
Watch the Black Student Voices four-part video series from SUSU to hear from students about their university experiences and learn about the importance of representation.