Saturday 01-09-2018 - 09:00

David Olusoga, The Slumflower and a new Slavery Trail are all confirmed as part of the programme.

The full line up of events for the University of Bristol Students’ Union Black History Month programme has now been revealed.

 

The Black History Month programme has been pulled together by the student BME Network in collaboration with the Bristol SU events team.

 

The flagship event will be an all-female panel bringing together Chidera Eggerue, popularly known as the Slumflower, British activist and model Munroe Bergdorf, Bristol based performer Vanessa Kisuule and singer Eva Lazarus to discuss black women in creative industries. The panel will be chaired by Bristol SU Undergraduate Education Officer Nasra Ayub.

 

Black History Month is essential in promoting community cohesion through the teaching, learning and exploration of Black history. The programme has been designed with this in mind.

 

Building on the success of last year’s programme, which included a sold-out panel event on the whitewashing of UK grime, this year’s is the biggest yet with a long line up of events for students and the local community.

 

This year the conversation will continue with prominent historian David Olusoga exploring the role black people have played in British history, a stark look at Bristol’s chequered history on the Bristol Slavery Trail and a daytime celebration designed for the whole family.

 

Eva Larkai, Chair of the Bristol SU BME Network said:

 

“Black History Month is important because it provides an opportunity to learn, celebrate and be empowered by a history that has long remained neglected. It should be a time for people to challenge some of the widely accepted, yet distorted and incomplete narratives surrounding black history. I believe that exposure to this history is beneficial for all, not just black people, and can help to process and contextualise some of the issues that exist in society today.”

 

 

“I am really excited about the BHM programme that we’ve put together. There are so many fantastic events lined up! I am personally looking forward to David Olusoga’s lecture on black British history and our panel discussion on black women in the creative industry!” 

 

 

Events will take place throughout the month, including a number of student events and a series of public-facing workshops. Topics will include Bristol and Black Identity, and Black art in a postmodern world.

 

The official launch for the Bristol BME Powerlist will also take place during October.

 

Tickets and full details for the Black History Month programme are available now at www.bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth.