Black history month
At Kingston, we have a strong commitment to improving the experiences of our Black students and staff.
Black History Month at Kingston
Reclaiming Narratives
At Kingston University, we are proud to champion equality and diversity. Every year we encourage our students and staff to take time to reflect, celebrate and champion the rich history and legacy of Black Britons both past and present.
Black History Month invites us to inspire and educate our community through a fresh look at Black history and excellence. This year’s theme, Reclaiming Narratives, provides a fresh outlook on Black history and excellence.
Take time to reflect, celebrate and champion Black History
Read what some of our equality champions say about Black History Month at Kingston:
Although Black History and the significant achievements and contributions of people from the African Diaspora to British society should be acknowledged all year round, Black History Month serves as an opportunity to directly draw attention to this and to challenge the systems that allow racial inequality to exist in our society.
Black History Month is about celebrating Black excellence. This year's theme, Reclaiming Narratives, also encourages listening and, for myself and I hope others, educating myself as an ally and supporting equity through my actions.
This month I'd also like to call for more people to join the BAME staff network, to help us progress important actions and to support the Chair. Our work is year-round and Black History Month allows time for focus, reflection and action.
Join me this special month to reclaim your narratives. Embrace your authentic self to inspire and transform, while celebrating inclusivity and diversity. Take control of your story to assert your identity and experiences, as these have uniquely shaped and defined you.
Resources to explore during Black History Month
- Black History Month UK official website.
- BBC Alt History: Writer and historian David Olusoga presents a series of short films exploring critical moments in Black British history from 1919 that have been forgotten or rarely discussed.
- TED talks: How to recognise your white privilege – and use it to fight inequality – Peggy McIntosh, Anti-racism activist, scholar.
- TED talks: The Danger of a Single Story – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack (PDF).
- Black Cultural Archives: Telling the story of the Black British experience.
Reading list suggestions for Black History Month
- Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman.
- Resisting Racism: Race, Inequality and the Black Supplementary School Movement by Kehinde Andrews.
- White: Essays on Race and Culture by Richard Dyer.
- Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer.
- How To Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.
- Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge.
Students and staff can find a wider list of resources and suggested readings by logging into the iCat online library with their Kingston University username and password.
Black History Month artwork
The Black History Month artwork, shown here, was created by Sustainable Design student, Trusha Oza, who explains her design process:
The BHM branding uses bright colours, and playful and bold typography to represent the joy of decoloniality. The main inspiration behind the design was powerful stories of strength, family, food and culture.
My design process involved working with keywords, creating a visual mood board, sketching and finally working on Adobe Illustrator to create logo options. The design aims to evoke a positive feeling of decolonisation and at the same time show strength in fighting colonialism
Contact us
Need more information?
Contact us to find the right person to reach out to, or call our switchboard on +44 (0)20 8417 9000.
