BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Your opportunity to educate, celebrate and empower with Black History Month at ARU London.
What's going on this month?
Recommended Books
The books below are some of our suggestions that we've found useful in helping educate ourselves about racism and Black history.
Click the image below to buy from Amazon
Recommended Films, Documentaries & Series
These are some films, documentaries and series' that are available on all major streaming platforms. Some of these we have been watching as an SU Team to help educate ourselves and but also to understand the privilege we have being white, and the importance of amplifying the voices of those who are marginalised. Some viewers may find the below suggestions distressing.
Click the image below to watch (you may need a Netflix/Amazon prime account)
Recommended Podcasts
In this selection of recommended podcasts there is something for everyone. Whether you are into politics and want to know more about social issues that significantly impact people of colour, or whether you are looking for a new outlet to aid self growth and development, then have a listen to the podcasts below. All of the recommended podcasts are available on all major streaming platforms.
Click the image below to listen
Ways to support Black Lives Matter
With the resurge of the Black Lives Matter movement earlier this year, we have put together some ways that you can help support the movement and your Black family members, friends and colleagues.
- Write to your MP- if you want to see change being made within your local government and the policies it passes, write to your MP to express how you feel or what you want to see change.
- Support the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER)- you can suport CRER by reading and sharing its work. CRER is a strategic anti-racist organisation based in Scotland, whose policy and research work highlights the evidence of the racial inequalities faced by minority ethnic people.
- Start and continue having open and honest conversations- if you feel like you don’t know enough, or that you want to support your friends and family around you, speak to those closest to you to open up conversation and to carry it on about the topic of racism and Black history.
- Educate yourself- in order to have proactice and open conversations, you have to dedicate time and show some initative in wanting to educate yourself rather than relying on others to educate you. Using our resources is a great way to educate yourself on Black history, culture and racism. Educating yourself about these things needs to be something you want to do, so engage with the resources we have suggested or others that you know of.
- Check in with your friends, family, colleagues who are Black- a lot of the events that have happened recently stir up a lot of trauma for those in the Black community. It means a lot to be kind to someone, and to reach out and see how they are doing.
- Sign Petitions- change.org and GoFundMe have many petitions you can sign in order to support the BLM movement and to make change to the injustices happening in the UK and across the world.
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Donate to charities and organisations supporting the movement- there are many charities and organisations which are working towards social justice and equality, to deconstruct institutional and systematic racism, but also to raise awareness and support families you have been directly affected by racism and BLM.
Extra Resources
Below are some extra resources if you want to find out more about how you can celebrate and learn about Black History Month.
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/news-views/black-history-month-resource-pack/
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/communities-london-how-were-improving-equality/black-asian-and-minority-0