Oct
12
Monday
Black History Month Unfiltered
This event will take place virtually via Zoom. Please note all attendees will need a Zoom account to access the webinar. A free account can be set up when registering for the event.
City Network for Racial Justice (NRJ) presents Black History Month Unfiltered, in collaboration with City, University of London, School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) and Sociology Working Group on Racial Justice.
Since the 1970s (US) and 1980s (Europe), Black History Month has become an annual celebration of achievements of Black people and a recognition of the central role played by Black people in the history of western societies. Since its inception – and while embedded in different times and places (February in USA and Canada; and October in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands) – this annual observance has sparked both celebratory acclaims and critical concerns.
This panel explores the genealogy of this celebration, and interrogates its relevance in a persisting context of systematic racism and structural inequalities. Conceived as a conversation between different generations of Black activists, it questions the current meaning and value – at both personal and institutional level – of this month-long celebration.
Panellists:
Kelly Foster, London Blue Badge Guide, Public Historian, Founding member of TRANSMISSION, a collective of archivists and historians of African descent
Nathan Richards, Digital historian, academic researcher, videographer, filmmaker, and journalist
Dr Jessica Jones Nielsen, City, SASS Associate Dean People & Culture
Moderator
Dr Louisa Egbunike, Associate Professor in African/Caribbean Literature
Chair/Respondent
Dr Jenny Mbaye, Co-Chair City NRJ