{"id":309,"date":"2020-12-01T11:46:16","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T11:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/blackhistoryyear\/?page_id=309"},"modified":"2023-10-17T10:23:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T10:23:00","slug":"past-events","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/blackhistoryyear\/past-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Past Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Screening Eugenics: How Theories of \u2018Racial Fitness\u2019 Shape Our Views<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>

Black History Year welcomed Dr Shantella Sherman for our first in-person event of the new academic year.\u00a0<\/span>The event explored the idea that in previous years, eugenics, the science of better breeding, relied most heavily on public health and public education platforms as a means to disseminate information, whereas it now thrives strongly through popular television, film, music, advertising, and social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Dr Sherman, an award-winning historian and journalist, spoke about this shift of eugenic theories from the laboratory to the living room and explored their presence in some of the UK\u2019s favourite shows, from Orphan Black and Top Boy, to Coronation Street and Happy Valley.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Confronting My Imposter<\/span><\/h3>

This discussion provides a supportive insight into Imposter Syndrome in women, with a focus on Black women<\/span>. Our speaker was Rhoda Quist and the event was hosted by Dr Deborah Husbands.<\/p>

You can watch the recording here.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Grief in the Black Community- Hushed Harbours<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Our speaker explored the evolution of the Black funeral, funerary rites and practices, and the relationship with death from the enslavement of Black people to the present times.<\/p>

This discussion provided a supportive approach to grief and bereavement by looking at practices that family and friends engage with when dealing with the loss of a loved one. Other themes included a review of religious practices and rituals.<\/p>

You can watch the recording here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mental Health in Black Students- Creativity, design, well-being & advocacy<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/h3>

Please find the slides to our recent workshop run by Sarah Gordon and hosted by Elina Souris here<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Black Love Project: How We Love in the UK<\/span>
<\/strong><\/h3>

BHY Westminster welcomed Words of Colour’s Executive Director and Co-Founder Joy Francis to discuss the findings of The Black Love Project’s landmark survey, completed by over 900 Black Britons, pre-Covid. Co-founded in 2013 with Patsy Isles, The Black Love Project is the first of its kind to centre the Black British experience of love and relationships with plans to relaunch in February 2023. In this conversation, Joy will share the stories, insights and surprises the survey uncovered, why in the wake of the pandemic she and Patsy plan to launch a new survey and the vision of how this knowledge can raise the visibility of how Black Britons love.<\/p>

Please find a list below of contacts, books and authors that were mentioned during the event:<\/p>

Publishers<\/b><\/p><\/div>

Jacaranda\u00a0Books:\u00a0https:\/\/jacarandabooks.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Ankara Press:\u00a0https:\/\/cassavarepublic.biz\/product-category\/ankara-books\/<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Cassava\u00a0Republic:\u00a0https:\/\/cassavarepublic.biz\/<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Round Table Books:\u00a0https:\/\/www.roundtablebooks.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p><\/div>

\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Authors and books<\/b><\/p><\/div>

Ola Awonubi\u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Lisa Bent – Symona’s Still Single<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Maame Blue – Bad Romance<\/a><\/p><\/div>

SAFE: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space – Derek Owusu<\/a><\/p><\/div>

\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Theatre<\/b><\/p><\/div>

Queer Contact 2023\u00a0@ Contact Theatre (Manchester)<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Sleepover\u00a0@ Bush Theatre<\/a><\/p>

You can watch the recording here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“How did I get here? Know-how for overcoming the barriers to career success<\/span><\/h3>

The Black History Year steering group welcomed academic and Diversity expert, Dr Doirean Wilson. Dr Wilson shared poignant and personal insight into her personal growth, career-life journey and the critical learning experiences of racism endured along the way, as a Black Briton born to parents who arrived in the UK from the Caribbean during the Windrush era. <\/span><\/p>

Dr Wilson’s slides detailing her vast experience and tips for career success can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>

You can watch the recording on Youtube here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Zoom\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Professor Catherine Loveday in conversation with John Amaechi OBE<\/span><\/h3>

The Black History Year steering group welcomed Professor Catherine Loveday, neuropsychologist and ally, and John Amaechi, organisational psychologist and bestselling New York Times author, for our flagship Black History Month event.<\/p>

The rapport between Catherine and John lent itself to matters from music to microaggressions and all things between. Catherine opened the discussion with a question about music. As well as learning about John’s impeccable taste (‘That\u2019s What Friends Are For’ \u2013 Dionne Warwick, ‘Wichita Lineman’ \u2013 Ray Charles and ‘A Song for You’ – Donny Hathaway), the question was nuanced and the effect on the audience, as indicated by comments in the chat, was notable. This seemingly innocuous question invited the audience to lean in \u2013 not only to think of music \u2013 but to reflect personally on the topics covered later on in the discussion: privilege, stereotyping, and everyday language.\u00a0<\/p>

The audience heard about the importance of memory. John spoke of \u2018brutality\u2019 in the erasure of one’s history and subsequent resentment that can arise as this history is revealed. He reflected on his own privilege and how it is not harmful to acknowledge this. In terms of language, they discussed what terms are \u2018acceptable\u2019 and how this is always changing. As well as language, John also mentioned the importance of tonality; for example, the difference between describing someone as Black and whispering the word \u2018Black\u2019. The whispering, he says, is linked to ascribing negative connotations to the word ‘Black’ and how, if you are using this as merely a physical descriptor, you would not need to whisper.<\/p>

A key takeaway was the importance of holding people to account. John spoke openly of the discrimination he has experienced and the way in which people have treated him – from microaggressions to overt racism. When holding people to account, he tells us to call attention to the action and the direct consequences of this action. He puts it perfectly by saying it is not about offence, it is about harm.\u00a0<\/p>

The discussion and Q&A left the audience with much food for thought. Professor Catherine Loveday expertly facilitated a conversation that allowed John Amaechi to speak openly about the salient points of his lived experience. Our Vice-Chancellor and President, Dr Peter Bonfield offered closing comments while expressing support for the Black History Year programme. Thank you to Dr Deborah Husbands for organising an incredible Black History Month event.<\/p>

“I always learn so much from John but there is always something new for me to take away and tonight was no exception. I am really grateful to Deborah Husbands and the BHY Steering Group for giving me this valuable opportunity.”- Professor Catherine Loveday<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"IMG_9773-Edit\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ace+of+spades+final+cover+uk\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Faridah \u00c0b\u00edk\u00e9-\u00cdy\u00edm\u00edd\u00e9 in conversation with Black History Year.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span>6pm, Tuesday 19 July 2022. Online<\/span><\/span><\/h3>

Black History Year steering group and the Queer London Research Forum\u00a0 welcomed\u00a0Faridah \u00c0b\u00edk\u00e9-\u00cdy\u00edm\u00edd\u00e9<\/b>, author of the award-winning and New York Times International Best Selling YA novel, Ace of Spades<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>

During the course of this in conversation event, we explored the pleasures of Black young adult fiction; the dangers of racist educational structures; the power of Black queer representation; and learnt so much more about the amazing Faridah \u00c0b\u00edk\u00e9-\u00cdy\u00edm\u00edd\u00e9, who signed a million dollar book deal at just 21 years old.<\/p>

Faridah was also kind enough to provide us with a reading & watching lists of resources she mentioned in during the event.<\/span><\/p>

Faridah’s Reading List:<\/p>