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
It’s not too late to get involved in the activities happening later this month. This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating our Sisters’, so most of our highlighted events below have a special focus on the achievements of Black women:
Black talent in business and leadership
Wednesday 18 October 18:00-19:30, Building 85, Room 2209, 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.
Monday 23 October 18:30-20:00, Below Deck @ The Student’s Union, Highfield Campus
In collaboration with the English Department, Bridges not Borders, an Arts Council-funded literature and art project, would like to invite you to share poetry in your mother tongue. Enjoy a relaxed evening of sharing, listening and writing.
In conversation with poet Kaycee Hill
Tuesday 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
In Conversation with Tolúlọpẹ́ Ògúnrẹ̀mí
Monday 30 October 2023 18:00-19:00, Online
To celebrate Black History Month 2023 – Tolúlọpẹ́ Ògúnrẹ̀mí, Outstanding Alumni Award Winner and founder of Coders of Colour, will be in conversation with Pascal Matthias.
Undesirables: Forced Mobilities in Mediterranean Bande Dessinée
Tuesday 31 October 2023 18:00, Online
Co-organised by the Parkes Institute and Winchester School of Art, the event will hear from Professor Aomar Boum, Chair of Sephardic Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Events in our local community
Black History Month events taking place across the local Southampton community include:
Open until 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.
Open until Thursday 30 November, across Southampton and Level 4 Hartley Library Gallery
Part 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.