“A people without the
knowledge of their past
history, origin and culture
is like a tree without roots.”
-Marcus Garvey
Contents
Black History: More than just a month
Black History in a word
The Story of Black History
How you can Celebrate Black History
Intersectional Histories
Black History Events to Inspire: North to South
Black British Activists and Revolutionaries
Model Article for your Students’ Union Paper
Black History Contacts
The term ‘Black’ is used as a positive, political definition borne out the struggle
against colonialism and for justice and equality. Whilst we acknowledge the
diversity within and between African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean communities, we
also recognise that all Black communities are united by our common experience of
under-representation, racism and discrimination.
Editor: Malia Bouattia
Acknowledgements: Abdi Mohamed, Minda Burgos-Lukes, BEMA (University of Birmingham Guild of
Students), University of Bradford Students’ Union, University College London Union (UCLU), Mma
Yeebo, NUS Black Students’ Campaign Committee
Published by: National Union of Students (UK) NUS HQ, Macadam House, 275 Gray's Inn Road,
London WC1X 8QB . www.nusconnect.org.uk/black
© Malia Bouattia 2014 National Union of Students UK, NUS HQ, Macadam House, 275 Gray's Inn
Road, London WC1X 8QB.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the contents of the guide are accurate, changes may
occur which dates some of the information, in addition to the possibility of human error. The contents
may not reflect the policy of NUS or the NUS Black Students’ Campaign. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without express permission of the editors.
To keep up with the Campaign during Black History Month and to find out about events that
are being hosted across Britain here are the ways to stay in touch.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nusBSC
e-update list: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/bsc
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nusBSC
NUS Connect: http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/campaigns/black/
BLACK HISTORY: MORE THAN
JUST A MONTH
October marks Black History Month, and whilst
it is a time for us to recognise and celebrate the
immense contributions that people of African,
Arab, Asian and Caribbean heritage make to
humanity, we should not be limiting this to just
one month.
As a Campaign, we stress the need to celebrate Black History because of
the sense of empowerment it brings. We are still far from a post-racial
world and in a society which continues to marginalise and discriminate
against our communities, it is important that we look back in order to
understand why we must continue to fight against racism and all social
barriers.
Given our experiences of underrepresentation, it is also just as vital that Black Students are the ones to lead on
BHM events held by the Students’ Unions. Self-organisation is a crucial element of liberation, especially given that
we are constantly faced with a revised history of our experiences. When we are excluded from this process, our
history is reduced to slavery and endless oppression.
In an ideal world, the month would not be necessary, because society, educational establishments and the national
curriculum would fully recognise and appreciate the contribution of Black people throughout history. Sadly that is
not the case. Therefore, October serves as a period of renewal for Black communities to connect with their people,
cultures and recognize how much has been achieved so that we are inspired to continue creating such spaces and
discussions.
As you Black Students’ Campaign this is just some of the support we can offer you:
 The Black Students’ Officer and Committee will be touring the country so if you’d like to request a speaker from
the Campaign, make sure to get in touch.
 We’ve produced interviews and video footage about the importance of Black History and why it is…’More than
just a Month’. Link:
 The Campaign will be organising a national Black History event in London, find out more on the ‘NUS Black
Students’ Campaign’ Facebook page or contact the Black Students’ Officer: [email protected].
 Put the dates of our flagship annual Winter Conference down in your diary, it will be held in London on the 29th30th November. Look out for updates in the coming weeks!
 Follow us on social media for all the latest news, info and resources from the Campaign and our Black History
Month celebrations.
 Black History Month packs which include posters, handbook, materials from other Black organisations and groups
The significance of Black history should never be overlooked, as the struggles of Black communities worldwide
have shaped the world. Our sacrifices should never be forgotten. Our long battle for a better world and our belief in
equality should always be remembered and celebrated – we truly stand on the shoulders of giants.
In unity,
Malia Bouattia
NUS Black Students Officers
[email protected]
BLACK HISTORY IN A WORD
Your NUS Black Students’ Campaign Committee 2014/15
describing what Black History means to them…
MILITANT
ANCESTRY
Zekarias Negussue
EMPOWERMENT
Sam Mujunga
PERSPECTIVE
Ian Antawi
COMMEMORATION
Beverly Mettle-Sesay
Shakira Martin
Sayed Alkadiri
PRIDE
CULTURE
Saifullah Maishanu
COMMUNITY
Ibrahim Abdille
#BLACKPOWER
Areeb Ullah
POWERFUL
INSPIRING
Shabina Raja
CONNECTION
Mariam Guled
REMINISCE
Hassun El Zafar
Jade Foster
Rayhan Uddin
INSPIRATION
Kelechi Chioba
JUSTICIA
REPARATIONS
CELEBRATION
Saint Owubokiri
SIGNIFICANCE
Sanjay Lago
Maahwish Mirza
Ari Diaz-Cebreiro
CULTIVATION
INCLUSIVITY
Ashok Kumar
VITAL
Candice Armah
IDENTITY
Samayya Afzal
HERITAGE
Opeyemi Onasanya
REMEMBERANCE
Edna Chirwa
REGENERATION
Adam ElliottCooper
THE STORY OF BLACK
HISTORY
Black History Month in the UK
Akyaaba Addai Sebbo is widely regarded as the instigator of Black History Month in
the UK. Addai worked with Ken Livingstone at the Greater London Council (GLC) as
co-ordinator of Special Projects. The first event was held on 1st October 1987,
when the GLC hosted Dr Maulana Karenga from the US to mark
the contributions of Black people throughout history. Addai
began thinking about celebrations of Black history, and drew up
a plan to recognise the contributions of African, Asian, Caribbean
and Arab people to the economic, cultural and political life in
London and the UK. Since 1987 was also part of African Jubilee
Year, other boroughs began to formally institute a Black History
Month in the UK.
How BHM is celebrated in the UK
Black History Month is open to participation by everyone and is ideally developed,
delivered and managed as an educational and historical awareness experience by
Black people and should be shared by everyone as world history.
Initiatives take place across the UK with voluntary groups,
local authorities, NHS services, museums and libraries often
taking a lead in planning events. All projects use the skills
and experiences of the local workforce and community in the
planning and delivery. Smaller groups do equally good work
on limited budgets, e.g. running supplementary schools,
which incorporate history, or incorporating the Black History
Month theme into existing events. There is always a rich
programme of events: concerts, historical walks, theatrical
productions, comedy and panel debates are a few examples,
but all have history as an integral part of their purpose. Some employers, especially
local authorities, can earmark specific budgets, which groups can apply for at the
beginning of each financial year. Other councils pick up and absorb publicity or
venue hire costs in some cases.
The origins of Black History Month
Carter G Woodson initiated the Negro History Week in 1926, which then became
Black History Month. He chose February because the birthdays of the two influential
figures — Abraham Lincoln, US president and Frederick Douglass — who he
believed to have impacted on the conditions of the “Negro”, fell in February.
The late African-American writer, John Hernik
Clarke wrote: ‘If we are to change tomorrow, we are going to have to look back
with some courage, and warm our hands on the revolutionary fires of those who
came before us.’ This quote was a catalyst for Addai’s plans at the GLC in 1987.
Why October?
Black History Month runs throughout the month of October. There has long been
concern about the experience of Black children in the UK, and this was a key factor
in setting October as the Black History Month. It is at the beginning of a new
academic year and can instil pride and identity into young Black learners. The
month is also significant within the African cultural calendar because the autumn
equinox in Africa coincides with the harvest period, and is a time of plenty. October
is also a period of tolerance and reconciliation in African culture. Black history is
therefore a reconnection with the African source, hence the Black History Month
symbol of Sankofa — learning from the past — with the benefit of hindsight.
Latest news and events
As the stature of Black History Month grows, there are national Black History Month
publications to bring together and document the full diversity of events taking place
in towns and cities around Britain. Some such magazines are Black History Month
Magazine, Black Heritage Today and Black History 365. They are available free from
libraries across the UK. See the links section for details.
IDEAS TO CELEBRATE BHM
Black History Month gives us a unique opportunity to empower and
educate each other so that we can develop a greater understanding of one
another as a diverse society.
So what exactly can Students’ Unions do? Here are some
Ideas for your campus!
Students’ Unions and ordinary Black students can do a lot to celebrate Black
History—below you’ll find some tips and ideas for what you can do on your campus.
Remember that you can celebrate Black history anytime in the year—so use these
ideas all year round.
When organising any events, make sure you are engaging Black women, LGBT and
disabled students. To guarantee attendance at the events, publicise well in
advance, ensure you utilise all the Black clubs and societies, make sure the event is
inclusive, intersectional and it doesn't harm to advertise free refreshments on your
publicity!
Here are some Ideas for your campus!
• Have a Black History Month stall at your Fresher’s Fayre with info on how to
get involved and details of who to approach. Contact the Campaign for free
materials!
· Campaign to increase support for BHM in your union by creating a Black
Students’ Officer in your Union — pass a motion at your Union
Council/Executive committee meeting.
· Plan a collective BHM by holding a meeting between all Black societies and clubs
i.e. the African and Caribbean Society, Indian society, Pakistani Society, Arab
Society. This will increase the amount of Black students you engage, and the
resources!
• Invite the Great Debate Tour on to campus to discuss topical issues affecting
the Black communities. Discuss racism in education, anonymous marking, high
dropout rates etc. Other popular discussions include Stop and Search, police
brutality and Black people in the media.
• Hold a celebration of success awards/dinner for Black students — and their
supporters.
• Contact Love Music Hate Racism to organise a music gig at your union. Or put
on a bhangra or hip-hop night.
• Contact local museums and ask for loans of artefacts, replicas or materials and
hold an exhibition.
• Create a photo exhibition on Black achievements in arts/science (Nobel
Laureates, inventors etc).
• Hold a spoken word night — historically used to reflect on topical issues.
· If your resources and funding is low, focus your Black History Month activities
within a week.
· Make a request to your student radio station to invite black activists for interviews
throughout the month.
• Ask different societies to perform at a fund raising evening.
• Pass AGM and union council motions on celebrating diversity, mandating a
yearly Black History Month celebration and for funding to be put aside.
• Hold peaceful demonstrations/vigils in remembrance of Black history — i.e.
the Montgomery bus strike and Mike Brown.
• Bring politicians and journalists to talk on topical Black issues such as the war
on terror, the role of the IMF and World Bank.
• Promote international campaigns that tackle injustice. Host panel discussions
on the illegal occupation of Palestine. The Campaign and our affiliated
organisations such as War on Want and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign can
help provide materials.
• Show Black films (from Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, Latin America and the
Caribbean, and documentaries like Injustice, Sarafina or 500 Years Later).
• Run an international food fair or market in a central venue by engaging your
international students.
• Put up wall displays and write features in your college newspaper about Black
peoples’ contributions in a range of fields, e.g. medicine, science, sport and politics.
• Organise a trip to visit Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives or Liverpool’s
International Slavery Museum.
If you want to talk though your ideas, or want to let us know about events
you are putting on in your union, we can help promote these on our
website and through our networks. Just email [email protected].
INTERSECTIONAL HISTORIES
Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the immense diversity
and inspirational leadership shown by Black Women, Black LGBT and Black
Disabled people in the struggle against racism and underrepresentation.
Here are some tips and advice on how to make sure that your Black History
Month events are inclusive, empowering and INTERSECTIONAL.
Black Women Herstory
Rosa Parks, bell hooks, Salma Yaqoob Wangari Maathai,
Cynthia McKinney, Olive Morris, Arundhati Roy and countless
others have made incredible contributions to the advancement
of the Black majority of humanity.
• You could host a joint meeting with your campus Women’s or
Feminist Society, celebrating the achievements and struggles of
Black Women throughout herstory.
• Host a Black women’s-only event to discuss not only the
issues facing Black women today but also their incredible
achievements. Invite speakers from Black Feminists and the Black Women’s Forum
UK.
• Fundraise for Southall Black Sisters or other local community groups that fight for
the rights of Black women.
Pride in our LGBT Sisters, Brothers and non-binary siblings
Angela Davis, Linda Bellos, James Baldwin Bayard Rustin,
Audre Lorde, Joe Amaechi, Margaret Cho, Tracy Chapman have
been inspirations for countless people and their activism
continues to raise consciousness of the struggle for Black and
LGBT liberation.
• Unite together Black LGBT organisations such as UK Black
Pride, Safra Project and Imaan with your campus LGBT society
to celebrate Black LGBT people.
Black Disabled History
The 2012 Paralympics were an opportunity to witness the
incredible sporting prowess of Black Disabled people from
across the world. Ade Adepitan is one of Britain’s most
famous Black athletes. Dyslexic Muhammad Ali spoke the
immortal words: “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and
remains the most famous boxer of all time.
• Work with Black Mental Health UK to put the issue of Black mental health on the
agenda.
BLACK HISTORY EVENTS TO
INSPIRE: NORTH TO SOUTH
MIDLANDS:
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Organised by BEMA (the Black & Ethnic Minorities’ Association), the University of
Birmingham Guild of Students Black History Month featured a diverse range of
events covering the struggles of Black people past and present, successes of these
communities in the UK and across the world.
The line-up of events included:

Black History Month launch event focusing on Nigerian Independence Day
and the progress of Black nations after liberating themselves from
colonialism.

Film screening of Black Power Mixtape documentary looking at the history of
Radical Black movements in the US, which includes archival interviews with
key figures including Angela Davis and Stokely Carmichael.

A discussion with former Black Panthers and radical community organisers
Jo’Nina and Lorenzo Ervin on mass imprisonment, racism and global antiracist solidarity.

A student-led event alongside members of the Birmingham Women’s, LGBTQ
and Disabled Students’ Associations speaking on intersectionality and how
racism interacts with other societal oppressions.

‘Still ain’t no Black in the Union Jack’, a panel discussion on institutional
racism in Higher Education, the Police, Mental Health services and
Immigration services, with a variety of activists engaged with campaigns in
defence of Black communities from the racism of the state.
A collaborative launch event with the West Midlands Pan-African Students’
Union.


A performance
night with
spoken word,
singing and
instrumentatio
n from
members of
BEMA.
London & South:
University College London Union (UCLU)
UCLU’s Black History Month included events spanning from cultural celebration and
critical subjects, highlighting Black history of the past and present, and showcasing
diverse creative contributions made by Black communities.
Events hosted:









A ‘Living History’ Exhibition featuring modern Black figures making
contributions to Black history.
‘The Slam’ performance talent show with professional judges, as well as
spoken word and comedy events.
Film screenings including Sapphire, Mississippi Burning, London the Modern
Babylon, Skin, The First Grader and A Separation.
An international food market.
Word Up: an evening of spoken word.
Fusion: a showcase event with UCLU clubs and societies.
Raw Talent: launching a Black mentoring scheme to challenge stereotypes
and encourage Black attendance.
A series of talks critically engaging subjects relating to Black communities.
LOL Comedy: turning out some of the most hilarious Urban comics
North:
University of Bradford
Events included:










Celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH with the University of Bradford Africa Arts
Society
The Great Debate Tour: Bradford ACS join York Acs , Leeds Uni ACS, Leeds
Met ACS, Hull ACS and Sheffield ACS to bring you the biggest educational
tour on the planet at the moment.
FILM NIGHT & DISCUSSION: Racism a History - The colour of money, A 3
Part BBC documentary, its first episode begins by assessing the implications
of the relationship between Europe, Africa and the Americas in the 15th
century. It considers how racist ideas and practices developed in key
religious and secular institutions, and how they showed up in writings by
European philosophers Aristotle and Immanuel Kant.
The Black Power Movement and the Revolution.
This event will explore the radical history of the Black Power Movement in
the United States and their struggle for the liberation of African Americans
from the brutal, racist and imperialist American system. As well as looking
back at our shared history, we also seek to apply the same methods to today
living in the UK in our own struggle against institutional racism, police
brutality, mass incarceration and prejudice.
Film Showing: Cry Freedom
The Origins of Salsa Dancing (presentation)
Heritage Bus Tour Drumming workshop.
Book Launch: The Lions Heart by Lionel Tshomba. Set in the city of Bradford,
UK. Two brothers, tied by fate; rich in money and poor in worry cannot help
but to confront each other in pitiful war.
Book Launch: When the Soul Awakens by Dumi Senda (International Poet,
Children's author, Storyteller and Humanity's Last Breathtarian) Affirming
African Identity, Celebrating Human Beauty.
BLACK BRITISH ACTIVISTS
AND REVOLUTIONARIES
The NUS Black Students’ Campaign has compiled a list of current Black
activists and political representatives who are playing leading roles in
increasing Black representation, fighting racism, Islamophobia and
fascism, challenging cuts and campaigning for peace and justice for the
Black majority of humanity.
This list is not definitive by any means but will hopefully provide some
inspiring examples of Black leadership in the struggle for justice.
Arzu Merali is a human rights campaigner, former journalist
whose topics of expertise include Islamophobia and
postcolonialism. Arzu is the founder and director of research at the
Islamic Human Rights Commission - a campaign, research and
advocacy organisation that works to counter human rights abuses
and discrimination, from an Islamic perspective.
Stuart Hall was an influential cultural theorist
and academic who served as the director of the Centre for
Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham. He
was a founding editor of the New Left Review publication, using it
as a platform to further discussion around contemporary British
activism towards a better understanding of race and power
structures within society. The effect his work had on academia,
cultural studies, Black politics and the British Left-wing, continues to resonate
today.
Olive Morris is the co-founder of the Brixton Black Women’s
Group and the Organisation of Women of Asian and African
Descent (OWAAD), who was also part of the British Black
Panther Movement. In police custody, she was taunted and made
to strip to prove she was a woman. Olive
campaigned for access to education, decent living
conditions for Black communities and fought
against state and police repression and brutality.
Assed Baig is a trained broadcast and print journalist specialising in
international politics and current affairs. Assed has worked around
the world including the Central African Republic,
Kashmir, Myanmar and Libya for organisations including the BBC
and currently as a correspondent for an international news agency.
Malaka Mohammed is a Palestinian activist and student from
Gaza currently attending the University of Sheffield on scholarship,
and a freelance writer. Malaka was elected Education Officer of the
University of Sheffield Students’ Union with the highest number of
votes in its history.
Zena Edwards is a Writer/poet performer, facilitator, creative
project developer and vocalist, who has travelled extensively
around the UK, the US, Africa and Europe. Zena was nominated
for the Arts Foundation Award for Performance Poetry 2007 and
won the Hidden Creatives Award 2012.
Heidi Mirza is a Professor of Race, Faith & Culture at Goldsmiths
University, London, and one of the first Black woman professors in
the UK. Established the Runnymede Collection at the BCA (Black
Cultural Archives), a race-relations archive documenting the late
20th Century civil rights struggle for Multicultural Britain.
Hamja Ahsan is a co-ordinator of the Free Talha
campaign who campaigned against the extradition
of his brother, British-born poet Talha Ahsan, to a supermax prison
in the USA without trial or charge, while also raising awareness of
issues around solitary confinement and necessary reforms of
extradition law through the use of art, poetry, film and music.
The Free Talha campaign was shortlisted for Liberty’s
Human Rights Award 2013.
Shanell Johnson was the first ever full-time Black Students’
Officer in a Students’ Union in the UK, at UCL Union. Shanell has
also long been involved in community activism, including founding
and serving as Chair of Newham Borough Youth Parliament, and as
keynote speaker for a conference by the Commission for Racial
Equality.
Rosemary Campbell-Stephens is an education activist who has
had roles throughout the sector including adviser for review of
institutions, racial equality and development in London secondary
schools, and consultant under the Education and Skills
Department overseeing an initiative aimed at increasing the
school attainment of students of African Caribbean descent in
secondary school. Rosemary’s work has spanned governmentlevel initiatives to community-led programmes including corunning a Saturday school for children of African Caribbean
descent for over a decade.
Nathan Richards is a writer, video journalist, digital archivist, media
producer, researcher and journalist who has produced work for the
Africa Center, Black Cultural Archives, The Afiya Trust, and the Royal
African Society. Directed the documentary ‘Absent from the Academy’
on the absence of Black Professors in UK higher education institutions
and addressing the effects of this under-representation on students,
academic culture and the educational system.
Reni Eddo-Lodge is a writer, journalist and Black feminist
whose writing focuses on racism, intersectionality and Black
feminism. Reni has contributed to The Voice, The Guardian, The
Independent, openDemocracy, The F Word and New Left Project
and was formerly a contributing editor at the Feminist Times.
Sofia Ahmed is a freelance journalist and activist who launched the
‘Muslimah Pride’ campaign against the Islamophobic feminist group
Femen, which gained international attention and was featured on Al
Jazeera’s The Stream. Through Muslimah Pride, also led a successful
campaign against the decision by a Birmingham college to ban
students from wearing the niqab, against opposition from the UK
Prime Minister.
BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH is a writer and poet. He featured on The
Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008 and his work
has gained international prestige.
AZAD ALI is the chair of the Muslim Safety Forum and an
elected vice chair of Unite Against Fascism. Ali works at MEND,
an organisation dedicated to empowering Muslims to participate
in the political process and in the media, including increasing
voter registration and challenging Islamophobia in society.
BARONESS VALERIE AMOS is the current UN Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and was the
first Black woman to ever to sit in the British cabinet.
LINDA BELLOS is best known as a gay and political rights
activist, and former leader of Lambeth Council—where she made
history as the first Black woman leader of a local authority. As chair
of London’s Strategic Policy Unit in the 1980s, she helped introduce
Black History Month.
AKALA is a MOBO award-winning rapper who uses his music to highlight
racism, sexism, class and inequality in Britain.
SABBY DHALU is the Joint Secretary of Unite Against Fascism since
2003 and was previously an anti-racist activist in the National Assembly
Against Racism for over 10 years. Dhalu is also the Secretary of antiracist campaign One Society Many Cultures.
GARY YOUNGE is an award-winning journalist for The Guardian and
currently based in the US. Younge is renowned for his articles exposing
racism and is considered an expert on politics of the US.
PETER HERBERT OBE is a barrister, chair of the Society of Black
Lawyers and was appointed as one of the first Black judges in Britain
in 1996. Herbert also chairs the independent Race Hate Crimes Forum,
helping to combat racial violence. He was awarded the American Bar
Association diversity award in 2002 and was appointed an
Employment Tribunal chair and a recorder in the Crown Court.
ZITA HOLBOURNE is a poet, artist, and a leading trade unionist in
the PCS Union who also sits on the TUC Race Relations Committee.
Holbourne won the ‘Role Model’ award at the National Diversity
Awards 2012 and co-founded Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
(BARAC).
SIMON WOOLLEY is the director and one of the founders of
Operation Black Vote and a commissioner for race at the Equality
and Human Rights Commission.
SALMA YAQOOB gained popular recognition as a leading figure in the
Stop the War Coalition and known for her courageous opposition to the
US-led ‘War On Terror’. In 2006 Yaqoob was elected as a local
councillor in her home of Birmingham and was, as leader of the
RESPECT Party, the only Black leader of a British political party.
LEE JASPER has campaigned against racism and inequality in Britain
for over 30 years and has played prominent roles in organisations
such as the 1990 Trust, Operation Black Vote and is a co-founder of
Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC). Jasper has been a
leading figure in challenging police racism.
DOREEN LAWRENCE and NEVILLE
LAWRENCE fought an 18-year battle in their quest for
justice for their son Stephen, taking on the institutional
racism of the police force and the political establishment. We
must commend the strength, determination and leadership
the Lawrence family have shown. In 1998 Doreen and
Neville Lawrence helped set up the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust that
supports hundreds of aspiring architects during their studies.
ANNA LO was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for South
Belfast in the 2007 Assembly election. The first
CLAUDE MORAES MEP before becoming a Member of
the European Parliament, was the director of the Joint Council for the
Welfare of Immigrants and was declared ‘MEP of the Year’ for his work
on Justice and Civil Liberties in 2011.
CHI ONWURAH MP is the first African woman elected to the
British Parliament and was heavily involved in the AntiApartheid Movement. She is also Newcastle’s first ever Black
MP.
PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH is a co-founder and Trustee of the
award-winning Black LGBT organisation UK Black Pride in 2005.
Opoku-Gyimah was the PCS’ only Black woman Negotiator in
the area of Law and Justice bargaining before being appointed
PCS’ Head of Equality, Health and Safety.
YASMIN QURESHI MP was the joint first Muslim woman elected to
the British Parliament in the 2010 general election and was Bolton’s
first woman MP. She previously advised former London Mayor Ken
Livingstone on human rights. Qureshi was active in the Association of
Muslim Lawyers.
MAYOR LUTFUR RAHMAN of Tower Hamlets is Britain’s first
Muslim executive Mayor. Winning a strong mandate with over
50% of the vote, Mayor Rahman’s administration launched a
scheme to fill the gap left by the government’s scrapping of the
national Educational Maintenance Scheme (EMA).
BELLAVIA RIBEIRO-ADDY sits on the National Committee for antiracist campaign One Society Many Cultures and is an activist in the
oldest organisation of African, Asian and Caribbean lawyers in the UK —
the Society of Black Lawyers.
MARCIA RIGG-SAMUEL and SAMANTHA RIGG-DAVID
have dedicated the past four years seeking justice for their
brother Sean Rigg who died while in police custody. They are
leading figures in the United Families and Friends Campaign
and fight for police accountability and justice for all those who have lost their lives
in custody.
WILF SULLIVAN is a leading trade unionist at the Trades Union
Congress and since 2004 has been the TUC Race Equality Officer.
Sullivan represents the TUC at the European Trades Union Congress on
migrants and has been an active voice against racism and xenophobia.
AVA VIDAL is a pro-Palestinian activist, an award-winning comedian and writer, as
well as a patron of the Show Racism The Red Card
campaign. Vidal has used many of her performances to
highlight racism in Britain.
Dr. Victoria Showunmi is an Associate
Professor in the department of Lifelong and Comparative Education
at the Institute of Education at the University of London. She is an
active community activist who is currently working on a project to
support Black Women across education. She is a member of the
Runnymede Trust – 360 and a lead mentor for BAME Women Race
to the Top Mentoring Circle.
Afroze Zaidi-Jivraj is a researcher of Islam in the West. She is
a community activist working against all forms of Islamophobia,
and blogger on Huffington Post UK. Afroze was also the winner of
Media Diversified’s Eight Women awards.
Taher Gulamhussein is a Know Your Rights
Advocate, Researcher and Campaigner at the Islamic Human Rights
Commission and Coordinator at Netpol's Community Monitoring Project.
Taher has been at the forefront of challenging policing of Muslim
communities as well as monitoring raids and protest policing.
Dr. Rob Berkeley was the Director of The Runnymede
Trust, the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank. He also
worked for Stonewall and serves as trustee for both Equality and
Diversity Foundation and The Baring Foundation. He is a Senior Adviser
to the British Council, a member of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Social
Justice Committee, and Chair of the Advisory Group of the National
Resource Centre for Supplementary Education.
Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian human rights activist with the
Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions National Committee and
Senior Campaigns Officer at the British charity War on Want
MODEL ARTICLE FOR SU
PAPER
October is Black History Month, but students and officers could be
forgiven for wondering how that fits in with their union work and with
their union priorities of fighting attacks on our education, making their
union democracy work better and making commercial services relevant to
their members.
Well, it fits in very nicely. The month exists to highlight and celebrate Black
contributions to British society and is an ideal chance for the union to get more
involved with Black members and non-members. Some people may wonder why
anyone needs a Black History Month, but the reality is that Black history is often a
hidden history, and one that has been written out of mainstream British history.
More accurately, it was never written in — for most people, school histories of the
UK were strictly all-white affairs.
Filling in these blank pages does a number of things. It helps to illustrate the
positive contribution Black people have made to society as a whole. Clearly that’s
good for everyone to understand, but it also helps build confidence in the Black
community and provide positive role models for our Black students.
Black history also combats myths about Black people in the UK — for instance, that
‘they’ only started arriving after WWII. Such inaccuracies and generalisations are
bread and butter for the far right. For NUS, Black History Month is an opportunity to
raise awareness — one that helps to destroy the arguments of the British National
Party (BNP) and its like.
Black people have always been at the forefront of human development, but too
often we have been ignored. Black History Month is a valuable step in enabling us
to benefit from all the goodness of our multicultural society. It is a time to reflect
on the achievements and remember the good and the great who have challenged
the norm and struggled to make the world a better place. If we want an inclusive
society, then we need an inclusive history. Awareness of all our histories breaks
down barriers and leads to co-operation on all sides and progress for all. Black
people have contributed to all aspects of British society. One example would be the
NHS, where a high percentage of members of the workforce — from consultant
surgeons to porters, nurses to cleaners — come from Black communities.
Celebrating the achievement and contribution of Black communities in the UK
comes from the idea of Dr Carter Godwin Woodson, a Black civil rights activist. He
recognised that ‘those who have no record of what their forebears have
accomplished lose the inspiration for change that comes with the teaching of
history’. If we are to leave legacies like those of our predecessors, then we must be
active and involved to make that change.
Yet involvement in students’ union democratic structures is lower among Black
students. Addressing this issue in our students’ unions will ensure better
representation for all. And with more involvement and representation will come
higher levels of activism and satisfied students.
The NUS Black Students’ Campaign is working with <insert your institution>’s
Black Students’ Officer to address issues of under-representation, the rise in
racism, inequalities in education and international peace and justice.
As part of this wider agenda, Black History Month is an excellent means of engaging
Black students on campus and raising awareness of the issues that affect them.
This is a time to reflect on the achievements and remember the good and the great
who have challenged the norm and struggled to make the world a better place.
BLACK HISTORY
MONTH CONTACTS
Please find below a list of useful links to additional resources and websites for Black
History Month.
www.100greatblackbritons.com
Find out who has been voted into the list of 100 greatest Black Britons.
www.black-history-month.co.uk
Articles, information and lists of events that are happening across Britain.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
An archive crammed full of African, Asian, Caribbean and Arab history in Britain
from 1500 to the present day.
www.obv.org.uk
Twitter: @OpBlackVote
Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign that seeks to redress the
Black democratic deficit in the UK and provide a strong political voice for all Black
communities.
www.uaf.org.uk
Twitter: @uaf
Unite Against Fascism is a national campaign against fascist organisations. It works
to alert British society to the rising threat of the extreme right spreading their
hatred across the country.
www.onesocietymanycultures.org
Twitter: @1_society
One Society Many Cultures brings together politicians, faith and trade union leaders
and students to defend fundamental human rights, celebrate diversity and
challenge racism and Islamophobia.
www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk
Twitter: @bhmuk
Black Mental Health UK aims to raise awareness and address the stigma associated
with mental illness and inequality in the treatment and care of people from African
Caribbean communities
www.ukblackpride.org.uk
Twitter: @ukblackpride
UK Black Pride promotes unity and co-operation among all Black people, and their
families and friends, who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender.
www.blackfeminists.org/blog
Black Feminists is a progressive and safe space for Black women to discuss the
issues facing them.
www.lovemusichateracism.com
Twitter: @LMHRnational
Love Music Hate Racism is a campaign that challenges racism by uniting people
through music.
www.palestinecampaign.org
Twitter: @PSCupdates
Palestine Solidarity Campaign is an organisation that champions Palestinian human
rights and has many resources on the history of the conflict.
www.blackactivistsrisingagainstcuts.blogspot.com
Twitter: @BARACUK
Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) seeks to unite Black communities in
opposing cuts and austerity.
www.uffc-campaigncentral.net
The United Friends and Family Campaign brings together various justice campaigns
to challenge deaths in custody.
www.tmg-uk.org
Twitter: @MonitoringGroup
The Monitoring Group are a leading exponent of family led empowerment and justice
campaigns in the UK, who use many innovative and pluralist formats to challenge
discrimination and violence including art, culture, drama, poetry, photography, prose, and
interactive web and IT tools.
www.blackheritagetodayuk.com
View articles of the British Heritage of Black people and acquire information through their
Black History Month listings and business directory.
www.blackstudentsalliance.org
Twitter: @nbsaUK
The National Black Students Alliance (NBSA) is a non-party political network of African,
Arab, Asian and Caribbean students whose sole purpose is to defend the interests of Black
students in education and wider society.
www.easterneye.eu
Twitter: @EasternEye
Britain's number one newspaper for Asian news and Bollywood.
www.caribbeannewspapers.com
See news at a glance from every country in the Caribbean.
www.panafrican.tv
PanAfrican TV is dedicated to news, education, and media of the African continent.
www.voice-online.co.uk
Twitter: @TheVoiceNews
Britain’s Favourite Black Newspaper
www.voiceofafricaradio.com
Twitter: @VoiceOfAfricaFM
VOAR was set up to correct the exclusion and marginalisation of the African community
from the electronic media, and became the first and only legally licensed African radio
station in the UK.
www.ihrc.org.uk
Twitter: @ihrc
The Islamic Human Rights Commission aims to highlight, publicise and campaign against
discrimination and oppression, and seek justice for those affected and responsible,
collaborating with organisations working towards a common aim.
www.runnymedetrust.org
The Runnymede Trust is the UK's leading independent race equality think tank,
focusing on research based interventions in social policy and practice.
www.irr.org.uk
Institute of Race Relations is at the cutting edge of research and analysis that
informs the struggle for racial justice in Britain, Europe and internationally. It seeks
to reflect the experiences of those who suffer racial oppression and draws its
perspectives from the most vulnerable in society.
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blackhistorymonth
The Guardian website has an interesting interactive section covering Black history.