TV historian David Olusoga is set to kickstart University of Exeter Business School’s programme of events and talks to mark Black History Month, which begins today (October 1).
Mr Olusoga, who is based in Bristol, is known for presenting factual series and documentaries including the BBC series A House Through Time and Black and British: A Forgotten History.
The co-founder of production company Uplands Television will give a talk on Wednesday (October 6) at the South West institution entitled ‘Black British Contributions’, which will focus on what it means to be black and British today, and look at the challenges the black community has faced and the contributions it has made to British society.
The event will start a series of free online lectures from prominent black historians and cultural figures at the business school, co-hosted by the university’s African and Caribbean Society.
Dr Angelina Osborne, an independent researcher and co-author of the book 100 Great Black Britons , will explore the African and Caribbean presence in the South West of England and wider UK from the Roman era to the present on October 13.
Dr Osborne said: “People of African heritage have played a significant role in Britain's history long before the Windrush docked in Tilbury in 1948, and yet when people talk about British history, they often neglect this important fact. Similarly, when people talk about Black history, they neglect Britain.”
The programme will finish on October 27 with a talk by Katie Donovan-Adekanmbi, an inclusion and cohesion specialist whose work focuses on embedding the values of diversity and equality into businesses.
Students in the university’s African and Caribbean Society will lead Q&As and post their own content on the business school’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, including weekly profiles of society members.
Oli Young, chief diversity officer at the University of Exeter Business School and curator of its Black History Month programme, said: “This year our Black History Month programme will be its strongest to date with an incredible line-up of expert speakers, each of whom possesses a unique gift for reclaiming the narrative of black history and relating it to who we are in British society today.
“I am also delighted to give Black History Month a student focus through the involvement of the African and Caribbean Society and look forward to their contribution throughout the month.
“Here at the University of Exeter Business School, we are committed to a truly embedded inclusive culture that runs through everything we do and represents the diverse community we are and continue to build.”
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