October 13th 2021
For this year’s Black History Month, we have been working in conjunction with pupils who sit on the School's Equality and Diversity Action Group to put the spotlight on black excellence across a wide range of creative and academic fields. The pupils have been compiling excellent resources on work from black creatives, whilst staff have been sharing from within their own fields and areas of interest. The aim is not to distract from the historic and ongoing marginalisation of black people in the UK and beyond, but rather to show that, in the face of discrimination and white supremacy, the positive impact of black history and culture reaches far beyond what the narratives of the oppression can tell us.
Black excellence influences every field and discipline, from music, literature and the visual arts, to architecture, business, public speaking, sports, mental health advocacy, activism and so many more. By learning about the lives of specific trailblazers, we can simultaneously find new inspiration and examine where we turn and to whom when we look for our culture, scholarship and role-models.
Given both the brilliant response from staff members, and the desire to acknowledge black history beyond the confines of a single month, we will be continuing to share resources during November and throughout the year.
Mary Flanagan, Graduate Resident Assistant of Drama
