Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to educate and challenge ourselves as we come together to celebrate the Black icons and trailblazers who shape our history and culture.

Find out about this year's events on this page. You can also follow us on social media for more news about Black History Month.

Open Mic Culture Night

Are you passionate about your culture and want to share it with others? Do you have a presentation to make this semester and feeling nervous about speaking in front of others? Do you want to make new friends, or expand your horizons? Or maybe you'd like a free drink in a relaxed atmosphere? Join us at the Open Mic Culture Night!

We invite you to York St John’s first ever Open Mic Culture Night at the Students' Union Lounge – all staff and students welcome! We’re hosting an evening for all members of our University community to grab a drink, make friends and share their culture with others. All cultures, backgrounds and artistic expressions are welcome. 

Presenters for the event are welcome to come and give a short talk, try a stand-up routine, play an instrument, sing, dance, perform a skit, or show off cultural dress in a low-pressure and welcoming environment. If you’re a keen photographer or artist, you’re also very welcome to present your work.

If there's something you’d like to present or talk about, but aren’t sure how, we’re also hosting a preparation session to help you work out what you’d like to talk about, and share top presentation tips.

If you’ve got an assessed presentation coming up this semester, this is a great way to come along and get over those first-night nerves with friends! You’ll leave the event confident and knowing how to smash a presentation. 

Plus, there’s free food and drinks!

• Our preparation session will be between 4.00pm and 5.00pm on 16 October in T.W. 104
• Our pre-show top-up session will be at 5.00pm on 18 October in the Lounge
• The main event starts at 6.00pm on 18 October in the Lounge

If you’d like to come along, either to present or just to see the show, please email Jake Furby to book your tickets.

If you're interested in presenting, please fill out our expression of interest form to let us know what you’re interested in, and we’ll get in touch with more details.

The Hope in Black

Academic Associate and PhD student, Bright Uzoramaka Nduka, has written a poem, 'The Hope in Black,' in response to this year's Black History Month theme: reclaiming narratives.