We've got a whole host of events planned this October – all in the name of Black History Month 2018.
This year for Black History Month, De Montfort Students' Union (DSU) are hosting a range of events throughout October with the theme 'More than a month, not just a statistic'.
The month of October is internationally celebrated and recognised for valuing inspirational individuals, and events from within black communities across the world. At DSU this year we aim to continue this celebration and teach people that Black History Month is more than just a month.
Jessica Okwuonu, VP Welfare and Community at DSU, is the first female black full-time member of DSU’s Officer Team, and is leading some of the festivities at De Montfort University (DMU).
She said: "Diversity and inclusivity shouldn’t be celebrated for just a month and then forgotten, it should be something we celebrate every single day; on campus, in the community, in our homes and around the world."
"Therefore, this month, students will be able to sign our petition which we will be given to the university to ask for all staff to be unconscious bias, faith and religion trained."
De Montfort Univeristy (DMU) students will be able to sign this pedge at all Black History Month events this October.
For Black History Month we have a loads of events for students to get involved with. To see everything coming up check out our events page here.
There will be a range of events happening this October inlcuding workshops at our #BlackCreatives event where students can display their creativity through music, dance and spoken words or just simply come relax.
This Black History Month, DSU also wants to encourage discussion about inclusivity and current issues so on Tuesday 23 October there is the 'Is it me or the culture?' workshop event in partnership with De Montfort University's (DMU) Welfare Services. The event will aim to give students a safe place to speak about inclusivity, issues in the black community, and anything they may struggle to speak about due to cultural differences and cultural acceptance.
Following this on October 25 Black in Britian will take place involving a debate event where students can talk about current issues in Britian that have lead to a rise in hate crime such as the Windrush scandle, Brexit and increase in kinfe crime.
Jessica explained, "We will be talking about what it is to be black in britain, being black and of a different faith, how we can help with knife crime in the community, can you ever be black enough and the importance of discussing mental health within the community."
Other events include #DMUEntrepeneurs where students can network and display business ideas, Inclusive Leadership Training, What Black History Month Means to Me videos, Language Links and Well-being Wednesdays.
Jessica Okwuonu, VP Welfare and Community at DSU, is the first female black full-time member of DSU’s Officer Team.
During this month of recognition and celebration we want students at DMU to get involved as much as they can.
Students will be able to get involved with competitions to win prizes by hashtagging #MoreThanAMonth on social media and will see the launch of our latest society Ohana.
The month will finish with the final celebration event, Through The Times hosted by Derrick Mensah, VP of Student Activities at DSU. Through The Times will be a production telling the story of black history in Britian from 1900 right through to today.
The event will include guests such as NissyTee, Scratylus, Fred Fredas, Esther Durin and James Thompson plus our very own DMU Steppers and Hip Hop Dance Society and we'll have a tonne of live performances from musicians, poets and dancers.
To check out all our upcoming events this month head to our events page here.
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