Black History Month in Cambridge

The origins of Black History Month trace back to 1926 when Carter G Woodson editor for thirty years of the Journal of Negro History, established African Caribbean celebrations in America. It is still celebrated there in February each year.

In Britain Black History Month was first celebrated in London in October 1987 as part of African Jubilee year. It has since grown to recognise and embrace the contributions and traditions of other Black communities.

The aims are to:

• Promote knowledge of Black History and experience
• Disseminate information on positive Black contributions to British Society
• Heighten the confidence and awareness of Black people in their cultural heritage

The University's Head of Equality and Diversity, Victoria Showumni, said: “The University is very pleased to be working with Cambridge City Council to celebrate black culture and achievement in our wonderfully diverse University and city.”

Events to be held in Cambridge will include exhibitions and talks in the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Great St Mary's, the University church and a series of research seminars on Mondays with leading academic experts from across the country in the Mond Building on the New Museums Site, home to the University's Centre for African Studies.

Cambridge City Council will be staging a full day of events to mark Black History Month on Thursday 18 October in the Guildhall.

Then in November the Sixth Cambridge African Film Festival will be held over four weekends, the first at New Hall and thereafter at Cambridge Arts Picturehouse. The festival will bring a wide range of feature films, documentaries and shorts, from regions ranging from Chad to South Africa, Cameroon to Zanzibar, on themes of gender, exile, migration, art and politics.

Full details of Black History Month 2007 events can be found at the links above right.