Hey, my name is Nic and I am your Liberation Officer for 2021-22.
Black History Month has started and I am so excited for you to see the events both the Students’ Union have, and University, are putting on this year. Our commitment to showcasing a variety of Black voices continues to shine through. Let us remember our past whilst continuing to celebrate those making history in the present.
Scroll down for information about nominating black students (or alumni) for our recognition campaign and for a list of events happening this month.
Black Sports Player Recognition - nominations open!
Like last year, we are looking for black sports players (current students or alumni) to be showcased via a placard in Percy Gee, or on social media. If you know a black person who deserves recognition for their contribution to sport at UoL - click here for the nomination form! Nominations close 15 October at 09:00am
Upcoming SU events - October 2021
21st Century Oppression and its 17th Century Roots with Ebony Harding - 8 October 2021
This event will look at the current system of oppression while tracing back its roots to the colonial system of oppression from the 17th Century. It will also look at how we as a much more diverse society can be allies against these systems in a push for the liberation of society.
Ungendering Blackness with Melz Owusu - 11 October 2021
The University of Leicester and the Students' Union are proud to be hosting Melz Owusu for Black History Month to a deliver a workshop exploring gender, spirituality and love.
Football, Race-relations, and Leicester with Paul Campbell - 18 October 2021
Join us on the 18th October 5pm-6pm (Ken Edwards Lecture Theatre 1) for an open discussion about racism and sports with Dr Paul Campbell. Paul is a Sociology Lecturer and Chair of the University of Leicester Race Equality Action Group. His research explores the relationship of race, ethnicity, football, and sports games.
Events Schedule - 2021 Events
Community Events
Serendipity
Serendipity is an internationally connected arts and heritage organisation that actively changes the UK artistic and cultural landscape with an innovative and inspiring high-quality programme. Serendipity has overseen BHM in Leicester since 2012, and was awarded tenure by Leicester City Council.
Last year's campaign:
Hey, I’m Tony your Liberation Officer, and I could not be more proud to announce the start of our We Are Black History campaign! You might be asking (or not) why we changed the name and what it means? Well, this name change came about a few years ago. For us, it gives us black people the ownership of what Black History is. It is more than a month’s celebration and it definitely is more than a tick box exercise.
We want to ensure that black excellence, culture and history is celebrated through the year (not being limited by a month), and that our campaign also reflects the needs of our students on campus and the wider issues that are happening in the world. With the re-occurring issues of racism, police brutality and injustice our community has faced, now more than ever, we should not let our voices be silenced and we should fight so that we get the social justice that we deserve and are owed.
I want us all to remember, that Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Lives matter, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You can read our Black Lives Matter statement here. These are not just words, they carry meaning and years of injustice, bias, brutality and many hardships. They also carry the voices of the ones who fought before us, and the work that was done and still has to be done so we can live in a world that sees us as we are.
I’m really excited about what we’re got planned for the year, and I hope you join us on this journey. We’ve got a lot of events and projects coming up, with students’ right at the forefront of making all of this happen. So come and join us, and celebrate black history!
In solidarity,
Tony Magaia,
Your Liberation Officer for 2020/21
As part of We Are Black History we commissioned a University of Leicester student to create artwork for rhe campaign. This illustration was designed by Ella Akrofi.
Events Schedule - 2020 events