This Black History Month, the University of Greenwich celebrated the diversity of its student and staff population with a series of seminars, lectures and events which highlighted different aspects of black culture throughout history.
On 29 October, Intergenerational Legacy of Windrush Nurses: Exploring the impact on successive generations focussed on the contribution the Windrush generation made – and continue to make – to British life and the economy.
The university is also midway through a series of Black History Season seminars, which focus on historical topics in the black British experience such as children born to black GIs and white women in World War II and parental intervention into mixed race relationships in Post-War Britain.
The University’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic society (BAME) held events of their own throughout the month, including an exhibition in one of the university buildings and a two day takeover of the university canteen, with the menu offering black and minority foods from across the world.
Vincent Atigla, President of the BAME Society, said: “Black History Month means a lot to me. It’s a month of reflection and a celebration of everything black people have done, as well as all of the obstacles we’ve overcome to be here.”
Following on from Black History Month, the BAME society are celebrating Minority Month throughout November, with a celebration of Diwali on November 7 and a ‘Traditional costume day’ on 29 November, in which students are encouraged to wear traditional dress from their home country.