Since 1987 the UK has observed Black History Month during October, with people across the country celebrating, learning and remembering the rich history, innovations, culture and people with Black identities. Throughout October there are events, workshops, classes and festivities in the North East and the rest of the UK for everyone to engage with, and many spaces dedicated to those who identify as Black to be empowered in their identity and connect with other people. There are several organisations devoted to BHM, including https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/ and https://www.ibhm-uk.org/black-history-month-uk, where you can find out more information about BHM as well as many of the events happening.
For Black History Month 2023, Newcastle’s Race Equality Network (NUREN) wanted to capture the voices of local people who have played a vital role in the progression and visibility of ethnically minoritised groups in Newcastle. This project, entitled ‘Local Black histories and intergenerational stories of resilience’, is an interview series where we learn about the lives of the people who are shaping the future of the city through the work they do. They touch on their early experiences of being in Newcastle, challenging moments, their role in the community and why this is a place they call home. We wanted to empower them to tell their stories and show how their resilience in the face of adversity has made them who they are today, expressing their individual identities in a way that will hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Having a month dedicated to celebrating the diversity and history of Black identities is important but identities and experiences aren’t confined by time! We, therefore, hope to release the blog posts and interview series periodically from BHM 2023 so that we can continue to educate ourselves and celebrate these histories, cultures and people throughout the year.
If you or someone is experiencing or struggling due to racism inside or outside of work, please use the resources below:
External:
- https://saricharity.org.uk/
- https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/
- https://www.tynesidemind.org.uk/get-help/our-support-line-8am-10pm-everyday/
Internal:
- https://newcastle.sharepoint.com/hub/people-services/Pages/Contact%20Us/People-Services-Team-Contacts.aspx
- https://www.ncl.ac.uk/who-we-are/equality/race-equality/black-history-month/
- If you are a NUREN member and would like to contact us, please do so via:
by Taskeen Nasif-Whitestone (UG), EDI Intern