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

Below is the latest calendar of events:

Event	Organisation	Date/venue/link	Open to
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	1^st October, 7pm, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/543-thurs-1st-october.html	All
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	2^nd October, 11am, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/545-fri-2nd-october-3.html	All
Black Rights Matter: Defending Equality Against the New Far Right with Shami Chakrabarti. Keynote talk.	Writing on the Wall	2^nd 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	3^rd October, 7pm, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/530-sat-3rd-october.html	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
Forced out with Kevin Maxwell	Writing on the Wall	6^th October 7pm, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/548-tues-6th-october.html
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	7^th October, 13.00 – 14.00 https://youtu.be/CoqqjEfdZnM	All
Decolonising the Curriculum Dr Leona Vaughn and Dr Lucienne Loh.	Writing on the Wall	7^th October 7pm, Facebook https://www.wowfest.uk/events/10-events/531-wed-7th-october.html	All
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	All
Your Local Arena presents: A Caribbean Journey, featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson	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
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	14^th October, 13.00 – 14.00 Link TBC	All
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	14^th 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	All
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	All
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	22^nd October, 10-12 am To register see: https://blackleaders.co.uk/blackinclusion/	All
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	21^st October 13.00 – 15.00 https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/events/2020/10/21/gillian-joseph-sky-news-presenter-and-broadcaster	All
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, Facebook	All
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
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	28^th 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
Black Excellence In Industry Irene Afful Tisian Lynskey-Wilkie Darren Douglas (tbc)	Liverpool Guild of Students	Available to watch online from 30^th 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.

Find out more about the team