Each October, everyone joins forces to celebrate Black History Month. Staff and students are given the chance to learn about the achievements and contributions of Black communities with a vibrant event series across all campuses.
Inspiring Conversations
Olympian and world medallist Yamilé Aldama paid a visit to Paddington Campus to talk about her journey from childhood in Cuba to reaching the very top of her field in the triple jump and representing three different Nations in the World Championships.
Filmmaker Amani Simpson joined us for a screening of his short film Save Me. Amani’s story as a knife attack survivor in 2011 to being recognised as a Black History Month Next Gen Trailblazer by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020 resonated with students and sparked an engaging Q&A after the screening.
Celebrating Black Music, Art and Food
Every Thursday in October, all canteens served up a special Black History Month menu. Students and staff enjoyed discovering new African and Caribbean flavours, from Ethiopian lentil pie to Mozambique banana cake.
The Black History Month Market highlighted the remarkable Black figures who have thrived through their SEND needs and unique experiences with a collection food stalls and cultural displays.
Health & Social Care student Sharon had everyone dancing from the internal balconies of Paddington Campus with an Afrobeats DJ set.
The Student Union Art Festival and The Big Draw also encouraged students to explore Black identity and culture through art, inspired by iconic artists Kara Walker and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Learning Together
Over 100 Supported Learning students welcomed Reverend Michael King to Willesden Campus to hear stories about the Windrush Generation. As the son of Sam King MBE (a founding member of Windrush Foundation) Reverend King captivated students with tales of the many tailors, mechanics and carpenters who journeyed from the Caribbean to Britain to help rebuild the nation after World War II.
To bring everyone together, our Black History Month Quiz challenged students and staff to test their knowledge on historical Black figures for the chance to win prizes.
At Willesden Campus, the Hidden Figures movie night shone a powerful light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black women in history and science.
Hungry for more? Take a look at the journey of iconic musician and alumnus Emile Ford, who went on to become the first Black British artist to sell one million copies.