Black History Month

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Black History Month is celebrated throughout October in the UK as an opportunity to recognise the experiences and contributions of Black people and the need to work together to create an equal, inclusive society. Across the month of October, our Officers will be around campus talking to students and leading activities. Here’s what we have in-store:

1 October: Nigerian Independence Day

To launch Black History Month, Kunal (Equality Officer 2024-25) invites you to join us at Moss House from 13:00 to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day and share its significance.

8 October: The Big Conversation: What does Black History Month Mean to You?

All day on 8 October, your elected Officer team will be around campus asking students about what Black History Month means to them. We’ll be capturing and sharing some of the responses so that we can promote students’ authentic voices throughout the year, and we’d love to use this as an opportunity to hear your thoughts on what you want to see from the Guild and UCB beyond the month of October.

1-25 October: Arts and Writing Competition

Enter our Creative Arts and Writing Competition and submit your short stories, poetry, and art on Black Identity for a chance to see your writing or artwork in a print magazine, with three cash prizes up for grabs!

All rules and information on the competition can be found here: Black History Month Arts and Writing Competition.

8 October: The Big Conversation: What does Black History Month Mean to You?

All day on 8 October, your elected Officer team will be around campus asking students about what Black History Month means to them. We’ll be capturing and sharing some of the responses so that we can promote students’ authentic voices throughout the year, and we’d love to use this as an opportunity to hear your thoughts on what you want to see from the Guild and UCB beyond the month of October.

17 October: Anti-Racist Network Launch

This year, the Guild is launching 5 student-led networks, each with a purpose of making a difference for our diverse student body. The first network to launch will be our Anti-Racist Network, which will be one of the most important ways that we carry on the momentum of Black History Month throughout the whole academic year. At the launch, we’ll be offering an introduction to the Network’s purpose and a short segment of training before an open and honest conversation about Black students’ experiences at UCB.

Sign up to attend our Anti-Racism Network Launch Event!
Date: 17/10/2024
Location: McIntyre House, 227
Time: 13:00-15:00pm


(Date tBC): Hairdressing Services

Thanks to our friends studying hairdressing, we’ll be offering hair services for any students with afro-textured hair. As soon as we have a date confirmed, we’ll update this page.

That’s not all

Across the month, we’ll also be sharing opportunities to learn more and get involved – check on our Instagram and newsletters to find out about the following:

  • We’re crowd-sourcing a playlist to celebrate Black artists’ contributions to music
  • We’ll be sharing notable historical figures regularly on our social media stories
  • We’ll be organising a guest speaker to join us in November for the next meeting of the Anti-Racist Network

If you want to get in touch, we’d love to hear from you at guildinfo@ucb.ac.uk or email Kunal, Equalities Officer on kunal@ucbguild.co.uk.