Black History Month in Cambridge brings an opportunity to take part in topical discussions, appreciate art and hear from a range of engaging speakers.
Black History Month in Cambridge brings an opportunity to take part in topical discussions, appreciate art and hear from a range of engaging speakers.
Events in Cambridge for Black History Month
Cambridge's Race Equality Lecture
Jesus College, Thursday 31 October
It may seem odd, but we start at the end of the month because this year’s Race Equality Lecture will take place on Thursday 31 October. The lecture is titled “Racism without racists – how racism works in the USA and the western world.” It will be delivered by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Professor of Sociology at Duke University and former President of the American Sociological Association. It will take place in the Frankopan Hall at Jesus College and will be available to view online.
Book your place at the Race Equality Lecture
Olaudah Equiano Annual Lecture on Race Justice
Anglia Ruskin University, Wednesday 9 October
Lord Simon Woolley, Principal of Homerton College and co-founder of Operation Black Vote, will deliver the Olaudah Equiano Annual Lecture on Race Justice at Anglia Ruskin University on Wednesday 9 October. The event will take place at the Cambridge campus and starts at 6pm. Lord Woolley is a tireless campaigner for equality, not just for Black communities but all under-represented or marginalised groups. During the event he will discuss the fight for racial equality drawing on his own personal experiences.
Book tickets for the Olaudah Equiano Annual Lecture on Race Justice
Moving beyond stereotypes surrounding Black women
King's College, Thursday 10 October
On the evening of Thursday 10 October, celebrated authors Kelechi Okafor and Afua Hirsch will discuss the challenges and opportunities they have faced when calling out social injustices in their work, with a focus on how their own identities have shaped their activism. They will share insights on the creative processes involved in their writing and how it has impacted on conversations about race, womanhood and justice.
Reserve a place for the discussion at King's
Collaborative art workshops
Robinson College, Wednesday 16 and Saturday 19 October
For those interested in modern art Robinson College is hosting two collaborative art workshops. The first, on Wednesday 16 October, will be hosted by London artist, Shem, on the theme ‘Black present now’. And then, on Saturday 19 October, the College will host Joshua Obichere, a Cambridge alumnus.
Register your interest in the art workshops
Panel discussion: Black excellence, health and wellness
St Edmund's College, Wednesday 16 October
Also on the afternoon of Wednesday 16 October, St Edmund’s College will be hosting a panel discussion on the themes of Black excellence, health and wellness. Speakers include economist and entrepreneur Ebenezer Ademisoye, clinical scientist, Dr Rafia Al-Lamki and Mastercard Scholar, Godspower Major.
Reserve your ticket for the panel discussion at St Edmund's College
Fireside chat at the Business School
Cambridge Judge Business School, Thursday 17 October
Lord Woolley will participate in a ‘fireside chat’ at the Business School on the afternoon of Thursday 17 October. The event will be chaired by Kamiar Mohaddes and will also include Tabitha Mwangi, Programme Director of the Mastercard Foundation, and Orobosa Isokpan from the Cambridge Africa Business Network. There will be networking opportunities as well but registration is essential.
Register for the fireside chat at Judge Business School
An exhibition and events at St Catharine's College
St Catharine's College, throughout October
During the entire month of October, St Catharine’s College is hosting an exhibition showcasing the achievements of two prominent Black alumni. The pioneering doctor and civil rights activist Dr Cecil Clarke matriculated in 1914 in the first months of the First World War. Wendell Mottley was an Olympic athlete and economist who served as Trinidad and Tobago’s Finance Minister between 1991 and 1995. The exhibition commemorating them is being held in the Shakeshaft Library.
See the full programme of Black History Month events at St Catharine's College
The Blacktionary Show
Wolfson College, Saturday 19 October
On Saturday 19 October Wolfson College hosts the ‘Blacktionary Show’. Authors Dr Maggie Semple and Jane Oremosu will be discussing their new work ‘My Little Book: A Blacktionary - The pocket guide to the language of race’. The book aims to help break down barriers when it comes to engaging in conversations on race. The event will be introduced by Dr Kenny Monrose, from the University’s Department of Sociology.
Register for the Blacktionary Show
Panel discussion: how organisations promote equality and diversity in the face of a cultural backlash
Homerton College, Tuesday 22 October
On Tuesday 22 October Lord Woolley will again be participating in a discussion being held at Homerton College looking at how companies and other organisations promote equality and diversity in the face of a cultural backlash. Other prominent speakers include the successful businesswomen, Olu Orugboh and Yemi Jackson.
Register for a panel discussion with Lord Woolley
The Trevelyan Lecture: 'Black Genius: Science, Race and the Extraordinary Portrait of Francis Williams'
Bateman Auditorium, Gonville and Caius College 5 pm Friday 25 October (Faculty of History)
Francis Williams was a Jamaican polymath who was born into slavery but ended his life as a gentleman and a scholar. His portrait, dating from the 1740s, shows him surrounded by books and scientific instruments. Was he Cambridge's first Black student? And who commissioned the portrait, and why? Princeton historian, Fara Dabhoiwala, will tackle these questions when he presents new research on the painting and its intriguing sitter.
Black History Month Academic Seminar
Hughes Hall, Monday 28 October
An opportunity to hear from the College's Black staff and PhD students and celebrate their achievements but also to hear about the challenges facing Black students at Cambridge. One of the main subjects for discussion will be the low numbers of Black academics in the UK.
More details about the seminar here
The Really Popular Book Club: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo
Online, Tuesday 29 October
On Tuesday 29 October the University Library’s Really Popular Book Club will be discussing Bernardine Evaristo’s ‘Mr Loverman’. The book follows an Antiguan born immigrant living in Hackney, London, who leads a double life. The discussion will be hosted by Yvonne Battle Felton, Academic Director of Creative Writing at Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education. This is an online event.
Sign up for the Really Popular Book Club
Black Advisory Hub events
St John's College, Wednesday 30 October
During the afternoon of Wednesday 30 October, the Black Advisory Hub is hosting a social and afternoon tea for Black students at St John’s College. It's one of many events the Hub is hosting. These include induction sessions for both undergraduates and postgraduates and the prizegiving ceremony for the Bridgetower essay competition.
Visit the Black Advisory Hub to register
Cambridge Students' Union events
St John's College, Thursday 3 October
The Cambridge Students' Union is also hosting several events to mark Black History Month. This opens with a screening of the documentary 'Educationally Subnormal: a British scandal' on Thursday 3 October.
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