Black History Month 2020
Black History Month is celebrated in the UK every October, and aims to identify and champion the history, achievements and contributions of black people across the world.
We are taking the opportunity as a School to celebrate achievements and raise awareness of ongoing inequalities faced by people from black backgrounds. We have developed this page as a central location in which to share events, blogs and resources that you may find useful or interesting. It is by no means exhaustive but will hopefully help to highlight some issues that have may have impacted our diverse community. If you’re a member of staff, please feel free to also share resources via LSTM Connects.
The LSTM BAME Staff network have collaborated with the University of Liverpool BME network to curate a schedule of Black History Month events accessible to staff and students and are delivering discussion panels with a range of speakers focussed on Black Lives Matter in Health and Higher Education during October and November. Events are listed below.
Black History Month also sees the launch of a theme within the LSTM seminar series on Decolonisation of Global Health and inequalities in academia, which will continue over the next year. During Black History month there will be two seminars: in the first, on 7th October Laurence Westgaph (UoL) will talk on Liverpool Philanthropy, Slavery and Empire, and on 28th October Mishal Khan and Lioba Hirsch (LSHTM) will talk on Decolonising global health: colonial history & institutional structures that perpetuate disadvantage.
Decolonisation of Global Health and inequalities in academia: A LSTM Lecture series
Black History Month also sees the launch of a theme within the LSTM seminar series on Decolonisation of Global Health and inequalities in academia.
The purpose of the theme is to stimulate reflection and discussion of how our history shapes inequalities today, what this means for existing structures in global health and what we can do to disrupt power and knowledge asymmetries to strive for a more equitable future.
This theme will continue throughout the academic year (2020-2021).
Liverpool Philanthropy, Slavery and Empire
Laurence Westgaph (UoL)
7th October 2020
Sponsored by LSTM Department of International Public Health and organised by the LSTM BAME working group.
Laurence Westgaph is an independent researcher, community historian, writer, broadcaster, and tour guide. He has a particular interest in Liverpool’s role in the slave trade and how its legacies have benefited the city and impacted its built environment, civic, cultural, and educational institutions. Laurence has written on these subjects for Historic England and the architecture journal, Context, and has also advised HE on their Liverpool listed buildings that have a connection to slavery. Royal Institute of British Architects have also benefited from Laurence’s research as he has provided training for their RIBA Liverpool tour guides. Laurence is currently leading on the Liverpool Enslaved Memorial Project, established to create a permanent monument in the city to commemorate the enslaved people who lived, died, and were buried here during the slave trade period. In addition, Laurence is also working on his PhD at the University of Liverpool where he completed his masters.
Black Lives Matter in Health: A panel discussion
Wednesday 14th October 2020
Panel:
- Dr Angela Obasi - LSTM
- Natalie Denny - Writer & Cofounder of The Goddess Projects
- Luc Bostock - UCU University of Liverpool Branch Equalities Representative
- Tisian Lynskey-Wilkie - Registered Midwife, Cheshire & Merseyside Prevent Lead, Founder of Black Mum Magic Project.
- Chair: Dr Charles Ameh - LSTM
Organised by LSTM's BAME network and the University of Liverpool BME network the panel discussed health inequalities experienced by the BAME population as highlighted by COVID19, and the impact of structural racism on health outcomes.
This panel focussed on three main issues relating to racial equity and health:
- The main concerns and barriers for Black patients when using the UK healthcare system
- The actions health related organisations, HEI’s, medical schools and community initiatives should be taking to address them
- Exploring support systems for Black community members and identifying what non-Black staff/students/community members can do in solidarity with anti-racism
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Black People and the British Empire: Public Health Crises Then and Now
Date: Thursday 22nd October Time: 7pm
Venue: Facebook. Tickets
Professor of African Diaspora Studies Stephen Small from the University of California Berkeley,who was born in Liverpool 8, will describe and examine health, disease and medicine at the turn of the 20th century in Liverpool, Great Britain and the British Empire, especially Africa. Using the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine as a springboard, Stephen will consider how theories of Social Darwinism and Eugenics shaped government and elite group attitudes towards Black people at home and across the British Empire.
Medical initiatives and discoveries for the treatment, cure and prevention of tropical diseases dramatically enhanced the ability of Great Britain to conquer and settle vast territories across Africa. This demanded a response from the foremost Pan-Africanists of the time who concerned with the health of Africans at home and in the diaspora and changed the course of history. Despite happening over a century ago, these developments share some eerie similarities with the experiences of Black people during the covid-19 public health crisis in Britain today.
Decolonising global health: colonial history & institutional structures that perpetuate disadvantage.
Mishal Khan and Lioba Hirsch (LSHTM)
28th October 2020
In light of the numerous recent reports of white supremacy in high-profile global health organisations, we examine how colonial legacies work their way into global health programmes, research, teaching and careers, and discuss how institutions in this space can move to fight, not reinforce, racial and national hierarchies.
Black History Month Events in Liverpool
The LSTM BAME Staff network have collaborated with the University of Liverpool BME network to curate a schedule of Black History Month events accessible to staff and students and are delivering discussion panels with a range of speakers focussed on Black Lives Matter in Health and Higher Education during October and November.
Below is the latest calendar of events:
|
Event |
Organisation |
Date/venue/link |
Open to
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|
So We Marched, What Next? Panel discussion with Tracey Gore, The Chair of Liverpool’s New Race Equality Task Force, Kim Johnson MP and local activist Kolade T Ladipo
|
Writing on the Wall |
1st October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/543-thurs-1st-october.html
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All |
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Superhero Storytime with Yvonne Battle-Felton reading from a created a book of diverse short superhero stories and poems for children aged 7-11 years |
Writing on the Wall |
2nd October, 11am, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/545-fri-2nd-october-3.html
|
All |
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Black Rights Matter: Defending Equality Against the New Far Right with Shami Chakrabarti. Keynote talk. |
Writing on the Wall |
2nd October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/538-fri-2nd-october-2.html
|
All |
|
Rising Phoenix: Music, Race & Disability. Featuring Toni Hickman, Keith Jones, George Doman and Leroy Moore |
Writing on the Wall |
3rd October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/530-sat-3rd-october.html
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All |
|
1919 Race Riots - Walking Tours |
Writing on the Wall |
4th October, 11am Venue: Chinese Arch, Nelson Street, L1 5DN Tickets: £10/£5 https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/213-1919-walking-tour.html
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Forced out with Kevin Maxwell |
Writing on the Wall |
6th October 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/548-tues-6th-october.html
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Liverpool Philanthropy, Slavery and Empire Laurence Westgaph
LSTM Black History Month / Decolonisation in Global Health and inequalities in academia Seminar Series
|
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
|
7th October, 13.00 – 14.00
|
All |
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Decolonising the Curriculum Dr Leona Vaughn and Dr Lucienne Loh. |
Writing on the Wall |
7th October 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/531-wed-7th-october.html
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All |
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Storytime with Patrick Graham: The Three Little Jamaicans |
Writing on the Wall |
Friday 9th October, 11 am, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/537-fri-9-oct.html
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All |
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Your Local Arena presents: A Caribbean Journey, featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson
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Writing on the Wall |
Tues 13th - Sat 17th Oct, 10 am https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/528-tues-13th-october-sat-17th-october.html |
All |
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Black Lives Matter in Health Discussion Panel
LSTM/UoL Black History Month
|
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
LSTM BAME Staff network & UoL BME network collaborative event |
14th October, 13.00 – 14.00
Link TBC |
All |
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Man Booker Prize-winner, Jamaican writer Marlon James will be joining us from America to discuss his new, Africa-inspired breath-taking saga of adventure Black Leopard, Red Wolf. |
Writing on the Wall |
14th October, 8pm,. Facebook
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marlon-james-in-conversation-tickets-121525874161 |
All |
|
Storytime with Cheryl Martin |
Writing on the Wall |
Fri 16th October, 11 am, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/550-fri-16th-october.html
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All |
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Re-RightingHistory: Liverpool Madeline Heneghan, WoW’s Co-Director with Community Historian, Laurence Westgaph, Sonia Bassey, Chair of Mandela8, Emy Onuora, co-author of Great War to Race Riots and Stephen Nze, Senior Detached Youth Worker and Mandela8 Ambassador. |
Writing on the Wall |
20th October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/547-tues-20th-october-3.html
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All |
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Black Inclusion: The Past, Present & Future Featuring keynote speakers, a panel session and the official launch of the Black Inclusion Index |
Black Leaders: Leading Black Inclusion in the UK
|
22nd October, 10-12 am
To register see:
https://blackleaders.co.uk/blackinclusion/
|
All |
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Storytime with Patience Agbabi |
Writing on the Wall |
Wed 21st October, 11am, Facebook |
All |
|
LJMU Roscoe Lecture
Let's Talk about Race Equality “Are We Missing the Point – Diversity or True Inclusion?”
Gillian Joseph |
Liverpool John Moores University
|
21st October
13.00 – 15.00
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/events/2020/10/21/gillian-joseph-sky-news-presenter-and-broadcaster |
All |
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Public Health Crises Then and Now with Stephen Small:The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Black People and the British Empire: |
Writing on the Wall |
22nd October, 7pm, |
All |
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Superhero Story time with Nathan Powell |
Writing on the Wall |
23rd October, 11am, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/546-fri-23rd-october.html
|
All |
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The Art of Disruption with Magid Magid |
Writing on the Wall |
26th October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/542-mon-26th-october1.html
|
All |
|
How to be an Anti-Racist Ally with Sophie Williams |
Writing on the Wall |
27th October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/527-tues-27th-october.html
|
All |
|
Decolonising global health: colonial history & institutional structures that perpetuate disadvantage.
Mishal Khan and Lioba Hirsch (LSHTM)
LSTM Black History Month / Decolonisation in Global Health and inequalities in academia Seminar Series
|
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
|
28th October
13.00 – 15.00
Link TBC |
All |
|
The Goddess Projects: Black Girl Lit Book Club |
Writing on the Wall |
28th October, 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/529-wed-28th-october.html
|
All |
|
Windrush: Music of the People: From SS Orbita to Orbital |
Writing on the Wall |
29th October , 7pm, Facebook
https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/544-thurs-29th-october.html
|
All |
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Black Excellence In Industry Irene Afful Tisian Lynskey-Wilkie Darren Douglas (tbc) |
Liverpool Guild of Students |
Available to watch online from 30th October |
All |
|
Racial Equity and Higher Education
UoL/LSTM Black History Month
|
University of Liverpool
LSTM BAME Staff network & UoL BME network collaborative event |
4th November, 18.00 - 19.30
Registration is free via eventbrite All |
All |
The LSTM alumni network
Since 1898, LSTM has fostered a community of future leaders, working to break the cycle of poor health and poverty all over the world.
Meet some of the incredible people who have studied at LSTM and find out more about our Alumni network here.
LSTM Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network
The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network will support LSTM in its vision to save lives in resource poor countries through research, education and capacity strengthening, by supporting the organisation with attracting and retaining BAME staff and progressing racial equality issues.
