Public invited to variety of free talks and screenings throughout October
A host of free Black History Month community events organised by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are taking place throughout October.
Talks, a film screening and a book launch are among the many free and varied activities on offer to the general public.
On 5 October, UCLan Senior Lecture David Knight is giving a public lecture entitled Why I am no longer talking to black people about race. The free talk, based on his personal experiences, is taking place from 1.00pm to 2.30pm in UCLan’s Media Factory Theatre 1.
A film screening of Hidden Figures will take place at 6.00pm on 17 October in UCLan’s Mitchell and Kenyon Cinema. The award-winning American biographical drama highlights the great achievements of women of colour in science and technology as it tells the story of a group of African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race.
On 19 October, the University will host the launch event for the new edition of Gretchen Gerzina's Black England book. The Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s lunchtime lecture will introduce the new edition of her classic text Black England which has just been published. She will introduce characters from the historical text and answer questions about the book's importance in this new era of Black Lives Matter. The event, organised by UCLan’s Institute for Black Atlantic Research in conjunction with the UCLan Centre for Migration, Diaspora and Exile, runs from 1.00pm to 2.30pm in Foster Lecture Theatre 2.
Taking place at Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium, an inspiring workshop will feature former professional football players and role models. Organised by UCLan Sport in partnership with the Football Association and PNE, the main speaker will be Tony Whelan, former player and Assistant Academy Director at Manchester Utd. Also speaking at the free event on 19 October at 6.30pm will be ex-Man Utd and Watford striker Danny Webber and local coaches who turned their lives around through football.
Other online events, featuring the amazing health initiatives realised by remarkable ethnically minoritised health experts, are taking place online. Details on those and how to get your free tickets for the events can be found on UCLan’s Black History Month webpage.
In addition, UCLan’s Alan Rice, Professor in English and American Studies, will deliver a talk at Bolton-le-Sands Library entitled Lancaster Black Lives Matter: Then and Now, 1680 – 2022. On 13 October from 6.30pm, he will explore the hidden history of Lancaster by discussing castle escapees, runaway slaves, black actors and Abolitionist speakers.
*Image designed by David Knight - In line with the Black History Month (BHM) 2022 theme focusing on changes with action, not words, UCLan's BHM 2022 visual identity focuses on activists rather than theorists. The image features the flags of Ghana and Mali and the faces of Carter G Woodson, who is referred to as the father of black history; Maluana Karenga, who devised what became known as the definitive black studies programme; Marcus Garvey, who is one of a few revered leaders who were given the title Father of Pan Africanism; Queen Nzinga Mbande, a C16 member of the royal family in what is today Angola; Harriet Tubman, who was responsible for liberating well over 100 slaves from plantations in North America; and Malcolm X.