Up and down the country organisations, local authorities, students unions and community groups are organising events and workshops to celebrate the history of Black peoples during October’s Black History Month.

Black history Month seeks to promote knowledge of Black History and experience, to share across communities information on positive Black contributions to British society, and to heighten the confidence and awareness of Black people in their cultural heritage.

The NUS Black Students Campaign is therefore encouraging you – with the support of your Black and cultural clubs and societies – to take up activities during this month-long initiative. By embracing our diverse student communities, you can be part of the national drive to educate, inform, celebrate and share the history of all our cultures on our campus.

This year, the NUS Black Students Campaigns theme for BHM is “Understanding Our Past, Creating Our Future”, which aims to highlight the importance of positive progressive attitudes towards race.

Ideas to celebrate Black History Month

Black History is often overlooked as a valid concept, especially in education. By using this opportunity to empower and educate each other we can develop a greater understanding of one another as a multicultural society.

Here are a number of ideas that might help you get involved:

• Have a freshers fair stall with information on how to get involved and details of who to approach

• Promote the Black Students Officer in every union campaign to increase Black representation – pass a motion at your Union Council/Executive committee meeting

• Run an open-house at your union inviting Black students to come in and learn about your work

• Organise a trip to see the Slavery exhibition in the Liverpool Maritime museum and take a tour around the city to see how the city benefited economically from slavery.

• Get the union exec to run a Clubs and Societies training event for Black groups

• Bring in other liberation groups to help organise an event looking at the experiences in Britain – or your institution – of Black women, LGBT or disabled people

• Hold a Celebration of Success Awards/Dinner for Black Students – and their supporters

• Work with the student anti-racism group to run a Rise Against Racism initiative in your college – a stall, film showing etc. NUS and SAAR can help provide materials

• Ask Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism to organise a music gig at your union. Or put on a bhangra, hip-hop, or African music/club night

• Set up a panel debate about racism in education, anonymous marking, high drop out rates etc. Another popular discussion is on Stop and Search policing or Black people in the media. Invite external speakers to come and speak at the session – NUS can help with contacts.

• Promote International Campaigns, or tackle another international justice issue like the war in Iraq or Palestine. NUS can help provide materials.

• Show Black films (from Asia, Africa, or the Caribbean, to documentaries like Injustice or 500 Years Later)

• Run an international food fair or market in a central venue by engaging your international students.

• Ask the college catering service to serve up food originating from Black Countries

• Put up wall displays and write features in your college newspaper about Black peoples contributions in a range of fields: medicine, science, sport, politics etc

If you would like to talk though other ideas, or want to let us know about events you are putting on in your union, we can help promote these on the Black Students’ website.

Ruqayyah Collector

NUS Black Students’ Officer

E: ruqs@nus.org.uk

T: 07966 627 291

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