Equality and diversity
Celebrating Black History
Celebrate, learn, take action.
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We're proud to mark Black History Month with events and resources every October, but our commitment to celebrating the achievements of Black people and tackling racism continues all year round.
At York St John, we have dedicated support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic students and an established route to report racism. Our anti-racist and decolonial community of practice is integral to our work as a member of the Race Equality Charter.
We know that actions, not words will lead to change and as allies, there is more we can do. During Black History Month and beyond, we invite you to join us for opportunities to educate and challenge ourselves as we celebrate the Black role models and trailblazers who shape our history and culture.
Mario Owiriwa, Students' Union President of Wellbeing and Diversity
Professor Karen Bryan OBE, Vice Chancellor
Get involved
You can get involved in many ways – attend an event, or check out some of our Race Equality resources below.
Tell us about your teaching, events and activities which celebrate Black History. If you are feeling inspired and want to suggest a speaker or an event idea, get in touch!
Staff: Consider joining the Black History Month working group or the staff Race Equality Network at the University.
Students: Get involved with our Race Equality Student Ambassador programme.
Contact: SuccessAndEngagement@yorksj.ac.uk.
Working towards race equality
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Our approach to race equality
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Anti racism resources
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Race Equality Student Ambassadors
Latest work
Hear from teams around York St John University
Ties that Bind: Africa's Unsung Hero
- Conversations in Social Justice
- Mpho Dintwa and Everett Ndlovu
Hear how this documentary, which received one of the top prizes at the Sotambe International Film Festival, tells the story of Michael Dingake, a political activist and writer who was a fellow prisoner of Nelson Mandela in the fight against apartheid.
Listen to the Conversations in Social Justice podcast on Spotify
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Andrea Levy biography
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Sarah Lawson Welsh
A biography of author Andrea Doreen Levy (1956–2019), best known for the novels Small Island (2004) and The Long Song (2010). Born in London to Jamaican parents, her work explores topics related to British Jamaicans and how they negotiate racial, cultural and national identities.
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End Racism Day
- York St John University
- News
York St John University issued a statement on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
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Black History talks from York St John University
An Evening with Jeffrey Boakye
Jeffrey Boakye, author of Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored, joins Dr Fraser Mann, Senior Lecturer in Literature at York St John University, for a challenging and insightful dialogue surrounding issues of racism and social justice.
'The UK is not Innocent': Black Lives Matter in Britain
Dr Simon Peplow (University of Warwick) places Black Lives Matter protests into a longer historical overview of the relationship between Black people and the police in the UK.
Moving Up, Moving Out: The Rise of the Black Middle Class in Chigago
Dr Will Cooley (Metropolitan State University) joins us for a fascinating dissection of the damage that racism and discrimination exacted on black people living in Chicago in the twentieth century.
Let's Talk About Race in the TV Industry
We are joined by media professionals Richard Francis, Diana Francis and Nicci Topping for an open and frank discussion on race in the TV industry.
