Black History Month marks 10th anniversary
Staff and students across the University are organising a series of events to celebrate Black History Month.
The University’s historic Old College will, for the first time, fly the Pan African flag, or Black Liberation flag. Dating from the 1920s, the flag consists of three equal horizontal bands coloured red, black and green and has come to represent Black pride around the world.
Virtual events
Covid restrictions mean this year’s events will take place online. They will explore and celebrate the collective and individual histories and contributions that have shaped African and Caribbean communities, including at the University.
Lectures and debates involving students, staff and external speakers will educate and challenge in lasting ways.
RACE.ED - a cross-university network concerned with race and decolonial studies - is organising a series of webinars on a range of topics. These include the legacy of black slavery, reparative justice, social care and environmentalism.
The fourth Edinburgh Race Lecture - to be delivered by Dr Katucha Bento - is titled Behind the Rhodes Statue: Empire and the British Academy and takes place on 29 October. Details of RACE.ED events can be found in the link below.
The School of History, Classics & Archaeology is hosting a talk on 20 October about the experience of African troops who died during the First World War and how their deaths were commemorated. Eventbrite tickets can be booked via the link below.
School of History, Classics & Archaeology eventbrite
Edinburgh Race Equality Network (EREN) Book Club will discuss issues of race on 13 October at 5:30pm. Bookings, to be made no later than 4 October, can be made via the link below.
The events organised by the Students’ Association start on 1 October with Black Excellence 2.0, celebrating Black talent at the University. Details of the programme can be found in the link below.
Edinburgh University Students' Association programme
Black History Month is more important than ever as we strive to encourage debate and analysis of past events and current issues, both in the UK and abroad. It is a time for learning and reflection, of histories uncovered and of past and contemporary lived experience revealed, including of our own staff and students. Thank you to all who are putting on events and making resources available for us all.
Related links
Edinburgh University Students’ Association events
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Edinburgh
Edinburgh Race Equality Network