Celebrating Black History Month

Transcription

1 Celebrating Black History Month

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3 Welcome from NUS Scotland Black Students Officer Hi everyone! As you will know, here in the UK in October we celebrate Black History Month. A month where we not only celebrate the diversity of our society and the people that brought equality to Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Ghandi and the late Nelson Mandela to name a few. These are people without whom African, Caribbean, Asian and Arab communities wouldn t have the voice to speak up and make their stamp on the world. This is the month where we also celebrate the diversity and multicultural aspect of our communities and institutions. A chance to mix cultures and educate everyone on the various representations of countries and cultures around them. This pack I hope delivers an idea of what it is you can do to celebrate Black history Month and how myself and the committee can help you too! Sanjay Lago 3

4 Black History Month Why do we celebrate Black History Month? NUS Scotland Black Students campaign celebrates black history month as it seeks to promote knowledge of black history and experience, to share information across communities in positive Black contributions to British society, and to heighten the awareness of black people in their cultural heritage. We should see the significance of BHM, and it should not be overlooked the struggle of significant black figures who challenged the injustice and struggle that plagued out society. Their sacrifices should not be forgotten, as they fought continuously for a better world and their belief in equality should always be remembered and celebrated. At the moment Black communities are being further stigmatised and marginalised by the growing climate of racism in society. We need to show on our campuses and to our institutions that there is no place for racism in order to make this world a better place and we can start that by doing so at home in our own students associations and unions. To celebrate Black History Month NUS Scotland Black Students campaign is not only partnering up with NUS UK Black Students campaign but also with NUS Scotland s International Students Officer, as we recognise that many of our international students also self-define as Black. Welcome from NUS UK Black Students Officer Black History Month is about celebrating the achievements of people who have been left out of the history books. From longer lasting blood transfusions, the gas mask and surgical instruments to chess, perfume and coffee; there is a very LONG list of achievements that people of African, Asian, Arab and Caribbean decent have made, but which has been historically revised. As the great Marcus Garvey said A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. The NUS Black Students' Campaign is encouraging students unions - with the support of Black societies and clubs to not only organise activities during this month-long initiative every October, but throughout the year. Malia Bouattia The Black Students campaign is called black as it is the political term used to umbrella all African, Caribbean, Arab and Asian students across the nation. 4

5 Black History month is our opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and honour black and minority ethnic groups who have shaped and made enormous contributions to the EGALITARIAN Scottish society in which we live. This month highlights the huge benefits diversity and multiculturalism from BME groups bring to our world. Roza Salih, Vice President Diversity and Advocacy, University of Strathclyde Students Association and NUS Scotland International Students Officer How can we celebrate and educate if we don t have an elected black students representative or officer in our union? You don t need to have a black students officer position to celebrate Black History Month. All you need is a great idea and how to get the word out to your students. The aim of Black History Month is to fight against the prejudices faced to black communities and educating on the people that fought to get equality in society. You could use the opportunity of Black History Month to start talking about black students representation at your institution. How many black students are involved in your executive or student council? How does this compare to the number of black students that you represent? When was the last time a black student was president? These are all questions that you can start to ask at your student executive meetings and can commit to increasing black students representation. A really positive outcome from Black History Month would be to start looking at ways to make sure that black students are represented and that you re addressing any barriers that exist to black students getting involved. What can we do at our college or university? There s lots of different activities that you can take part in or arrange to celebrate Black History Month, here s a few to get the ideas flowing: A day of films that show change and struggles of people or just fun comedy films with black actors. A few suggestions are Mandela, The Colour Purple,12 Years A Slave, A Wonderful Afterlife, Bride and Prejudice, Fela, Ghandi, Sister Act, Goodburger Talks: Bring in inspirational black business people or lecturing staff to speak about their experiences. Food: Having different food in the canteen / a week of different countries. For example one week where each day is a different country, including cuisine from Nigeria, India, China etc. Quizzes at lunch, based on famous quotes, incidents in history, or historic Black and Asian figures. A chance to educate and have FUN! A flashmob or Britain s Got Talent type event, putting together a small showcase of talents at the end of month. 5

6 A Lunchtime Discussion on What it means to be Black? in Scotland, get students together and put some feedback together for your institution and what students feel is good and bad about being Black in Scotland. You could even bring together a small video presentation of the comments made. Posters and inspirational quotes of important Black Asian and Ethnic Minority figures around your common rooms or student spaces to inspire your students. Music Play music from other countries and cultures to keep your spaces alive. Raise awareness Have talks and lunch time focus groups on issues faced to Black and Asian Communities. Topics such as racism, female genital mutilation (FGM), xenophobia, islamaphobia or any other awareness type event. You can find more ideas about activities for Black History Month in NUS UK s guide which you can download here. What s going on in Scotland for Black History Month 2014? Heriot-Watt University Students Union Heriot-Watt are holding a Diversity Week Campaign, where they have different inspirational and key-note speakers coming to give talks on various issues, they have a diverse population of students, and are using this campaign week to make aware many issues that face not only black students but students on a wider scale fro international to Women. Contact details: Miranda Matoshi, Vice President, union.vicepresident@hw.ac.uk City of Glasgow College City of Glasgow College are having a film week showcasing comedy films and those of a more serious nature. City SA are also hosting a black history month quiz and hosting a series of speaker talks with various industry professionals, and business entrepreneurs to consider the question What Does it Mean to be Black in Glasgow?. Contact details: Sanjay Lago, President, , sanjay.lago@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk University of Strathclyde Students Association The University of Strathclyde Students Association will show the Glasgow Girls film on Friday 24 October at 6pm. Glasgow Girls is a specially commissioned musical drama for BBC Three and BBC Scotland that tells the inspirational true story of a group of schoolgirls whose petition to save their friend from deportation inspired a movement, which would eventually help change immigration practices in Scotland and garnering them the Scottish Campaign of the Year award in Venue: Debates Chamber (Level 6), University of Strathclyde Students Association 90 John Street, Glasgow G1 1JH. Free refreshments provided. Contact details: Roza Salih, Vice President Diversity and Advocacy, , ussa.vpda@strath.ac.uk Have you got something planned at your students association? Get in touch and tell us about it. Sanjay.Lago@nusscotland.org.uk 6

7 Help us to celebrate the work of students nationally This Black History Month students in Scotland can show off as a nation the work that we re doing to celebrate Black culture. We want to collate all of the photographs and videos that you gather over the course of Black History Month and put them together into a celebration of what students in Scotland are doing. Please send any materials to Sanjay.Lago@nusscotland.org.uk by Friday 7 November. What happens after Black History Month? The celebration of Black culture and the fight against racism doesn t stop when the month of October draws to a close. We want you to keep in touch about further events and campaigns that you re running and we want you to get involved with campaigns at a national level as well. This year NUS Scotland Black Students Committee is not only going to celebrate Black culture but look at the following topics: Mental health and Black communities Black representation in the creative industries Black students leadership Tackling the notion of Black beauty Black students awards Black students representation in NUS NUS Scotland Black Students Committee NUS Scotland Black Students Committee is made up entirely of volunteers and consists of the NUS Scotland Black Students Officer and students who are elected annually at NUS Scotland Black Students Conference. The NUS Scotland Black Students Committee for is: Sanjay Lago Adiaha Nkere Nana Gyasi April Kayejo Faisal Rahim Contact details: Sanjay Lago, NUS Scotland Black Students Officer Sanjay.Lago@nus-scotland.org.uk NUS UK Black Students Committee Students in Scotland are also represented at a UK level by NUS UK Black Students Committee. The work of this committee is led by NUS UK Black Students Officer Malia Bouattia who is an elected full-time officer. Contact details: Malia Bouattia, NUS UK Black Students Officer Malia.Bouattia@nus.org.uk NUS Scotland Black Students Conference 2015 Save the date in your diary for NUS Scotland Black Students Conference 2015 which will be held on Thursday 9 April Sound good? Want to find out more? Sign up to NUS Scotland Black Students mailing list (jiscmail) by going to 7

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