Black History Month
The month of October is a chance to reflect on and celebrate the enormous contributions black people have made to our vibrant society. The page includes Black History Month 2020 events, support and resources, and outlines our commitment to anti-racism initiatives.
Black History Month events
We're running a wide range of events to celebrate Black History Month. See the full schedule on our Be Connected events calendar.
Public declaration of anti-racism
Scotland’s universities stand united against racism: Universities Scotland has been working closely with Advance HE over recent months as it’s Steering Group on tackling racism, led by Khadija Mohammed, developed a declaration and a programme of activity to support universities and colleges to build a zero-tolerance approach to racial harassment. The project, funded by SFC, aims to develop evidence-based resources to be used by Scottish universities and colleges as they respond to the findings highlighted in the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s 2019 report 'Universities Challenged'.
In response to Advance HE’s ‘The Journey from Critical Conversations to Critical Action: We stand united against racism‘ webinar on Friday 14 August 2020), in which a number of Scottish colleges, universities and public bodies made a public declaration of anti-racism, Universities Scotland Convener Professor Gerry McCormac said:
"I recognise my responsibility as a sector leader and university Principal, to work to eradicate racism in all of its forms and support an anti-racist agenda in higher education. I see the declaration against racism as a milestone in the sector’s journey of increased understanding and action. It is not a time to pause; it is a time for all those with a leadership role in higher education to recognise how far we still have to go and to commit to accelerate our actions. We must continue to take concrete steps to address the systemic issues in higher education that perpetuate inequality and deliver meaningful change so that our students and staff do not fear prejudice and are fully empowered in their place of study or work.
To achieve this, we need to listen, be prepared to do so humbly, and to act. Only then can we create a higher education sector where everyone is able to realise their true potential. I want to thank Khadija and the members of Advance HE’s steering group for the work and the leadership that has led to this declaration and the programme of work that is to be delivered in Scotland’s higher education sector from the autumn onwards. Advance HE’s programme will complement ongoing work within institutions and help to situate race and anti-racism at the centre of Scottish higher education, providing a mechanism for culture change at all levels."
Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice Chancellor, and Universities Scotland Convener
Critical Conversations on Racism
| Topic | Access |
|---|---|
| Khadija Mohammed in conversation with Barbara Becnel - discussing shared experiences of race, racism and whiteness in the United States and Scotland. | Watch online at Advance-HE |
| Sharing the work of the Scottish Funding Council funded Steering Group on tackling racism – what goes on behind the scenes. | Watch online at Advance-HE |
| The Journey from Critical Conversations to Critical Action: We stand united against racism webinar (Friday 14 August 2020). A declaration of commitment to anti-racism. | Watch online at Advance-HE |
|
Progressing Race Equality: Action, Allyship and Anti-Racism – Professor Rowena Arshad. Please be aware, this webinar includes a racial slur, said in an educational context in response to a question on use of terminology, and referencing Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of language, e.g. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. |
Watch online at Advance-HE |
| From Critical Conversations to Action: What does it look like? Takes place 21 October, 2020. | |
| Decolonising the institution. Takes place 27 November 2020. | |
| Webinar: Taking action to tackle racism across Higher Education with Amatey Doku - Rapid action is essential; but actions must be practical, meaningful, sustainable, and shaped by the lived experience of people of colour working and studying in HE. This Wonkhe @ Home, hosted by Amatey Doku, explores the themes shaping those experiences and aim to identify what must be done across universities to make higher education truly inclusive. Access the full recording of the event, the slides presented at the start and additional resources discussed. |
Just Ask - Student Support Services team
A range of services available to provide additional support. Students can contact our Student Support Services team, and also access the anonymous online wellbeing platform togetherall. Colleagues are able to use the University’s Employee Assistance Programme, which is available 24/7.
CESREC
CESREC (Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC)) exists and works to promote equality; fight hate crime and discrimination; foster good relations and build partnerships in the Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas. This includes a free and confidential Support and Advice Service
CESREC also provides training for organisations on racism, hate crime and race equality. They are also a Third Party Reporting Centre, where you can anonymously report hate crimes to the Police.
Shakti Women’s Aid
Shakti Women’s Aid helps BME women, children, and young people experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse from a partner, ex-partner, and/ or other members of the household. They work closely with the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, NHS Scotland, and other statutory and voluntary services. They also provide training and consultancy for agencies working with BME women, children, and young people. Based in Edinburgh but they have outreach staff in Stirling.
Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) toolkit
The University has revised its equality impact assessment (EIA) toolkit, which will help staff to conduct EIA’s, including considering the impact of any policy or decision on people in relation to their race, nationality, ethnic or religious background.
Books, articles and resources to read
- Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini
- The White Racial Frame – centuries of racial framing and counter-framing by Joe R. Feagin
- Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's
- Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
- Why I’m No longer Talking to White People About Raceby Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student attainment at UK universities
- Infographic from Gurnam Singh (2020) about the spectrum from racism/white supremacy to race awareness to active allyship.
- Explore resources from petitions to books and courses to help you get involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, and educated about the history of black oppression
- A list of petitions to sign, funds and charities to donate to, and resources for educating yourself and those around you
- Black History: A timeline of two millennia of world shaping individuals and momentous events that define Black history
- The National Archives: Black Presence – Asian and Black History in Britain, 1500-1850
- Black History Month website
- BBC Article: The N-word: The troubled history of the racial slur. “The term can be traced back to slavery and to many it's one of the most offensive words out there.”