George Floyd… one year on

This 25th May will mark the first anniversary of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. This post is to share a few events and calls for action to mark the day that have come to my inbox and that might interest you.



Coventry University

This is an open invitation for anyone to join in an informal conversation to reflect on what has happened (or not) over the past year and share thoughts on what might or should happen going forward.

When: May 25, 2021 05:30 PM London

Register in advance for this meeting:
The link to register: https://coventry-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodO-qqz8jE9S4-sPHweDfCusIAj5CWzOX

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.



Brighton & Hove

Remember George Floyd event at Brighton police station to mark the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and to say the UK is not innocent here either.

[there is also an impressive online national rally at 5pm that Saturday – see details below].

On Tuesday 25 May – the actual anniversary of the murder of George Floyd – the TUC and SUTR are encouraging people to take the knee at 6pm wherever they are. In Brighton, Brighton BLM have organised an important vigil at 6pm at the Level that evening

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/276736110844028/
Link for more: https://twitter.com/BtonHoveSUTR/status/1395428770635522055



Leeds Trinity University

Black Lives Matter: Accountability, Transparency, Action
Date: Wednesday, 26th May 2021 –
Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-lives-matter-accountability-transparency-action-tickets-153502842133

In the quest for solidarity, I’m reminded of Martin Niemöller’s confessions, “Should I be my brother’s keeper? […] Can we say, we aren’t guilty/responsible?”

Recognising Holocaust Memorial Day 27/01/21

Remembering those lost during the Holocaust

Holocaust Memorial Day collage from 2020 - created by F. MacNeill

A collage created by F. MacNeill to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in 2020

A key goal of the Staff Race and Faith Network is to provide a space for staff to come together. Part of coming together is taking time to reflect and learn about the lived experiences of our colleagues and students, educating ourselves about other cultures and historical contexts. We are always learning and invite anyone who is reading this to do so as well. Holocaust Memorial Day is an important day for reflection, remembering the terrible tragedies of the past so that they are not repeated and recognising the legacy of trauma which persists to this day. To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 we provide a selection of events and resources below, specifically highlighting an event facilitated by the Univerisity of Brighton Faith and Spirituality Advisers in collaboration with the Sussex Chaplaincy and with the charity Generation 2 Generation.

Regardless of whether you can attend any of the events that are listed, you can learn more about the Holocaust and the effects of genocides around the world at the Holocaust Memorial Day site.

27/01/21 at 7.30pm
Highlighted event:
Paulette’s Story – the destruction of a Jewish family in France [Online Event]

A Holocaust Memorial Day Presentation and Conversation with Debra Barnes
Organised by the University of Brighton Faith & Spirituality Team and University of Sussex Chaplaincy welcome Debra Barnes from the charity G2G – Generation 2 Generation

Joining details for Zoom are listed on the calendar event on staffcentral.

Presentation via Zoom with opportunities for questions and feedback following the talk.

Debra has recently published a children’s book based on her mother’s story called ‘The Young Survivors’.

G2G (Generation 2 Generation) was formed in order to train the children, grandchildren and close friends of Holocaust survivors to present the memories of their relatives or friends, many of whom have either died or are now in their 80s and 90s. They feel that it is vital that those experiences should not be forgotten and their aim is to promote a clear message of tolerance and understanding for the generations of the future.

Logo for the University of Brighton Faith and Spirituality Advisers Logo for the University of Sussex Chaplaincy

26/01/21 at 6pm
Never Again – Holocaust Memorial Day – Organised by Stand Up To Racism [Online Event]

Speakers include: 
Collette Levy, hidden as a child from the Nazis,
Lorna Brunstein, daughter of Holocaust survivor Lorna Brunstein,
Professor Ruth Levitas, Daniela Abraham Sinta Roma Memorial Trust

For more details and joining information, please see the Facebook event page.

27/01/21 at 6pm
Brighton and Hove Holocaust Memorial Day with Latest TV

The Brighton & Hove Holocaust Education Project in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council will be commemorating this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) on 27 January. For the first time this event will be entirely on-line, joining communities around the UK as they observe this national day of awareness and reflection.

A special one-hour programme will be live-streamed courtesy of Latest TV at 2 pm and 6 pm on 27 January via the station’s web site. It will be available for schools and the general public for immediate access.

27/01/21 – 7pm-8pm
Main Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony [Online Event]

Register to attend the main ceremony which will be streamed online from 7-8pm on 27/01.

Light a candle and put it in your window at 8pm on 27 January 2021 (if you are able to do so safely). Tag your candle photo or artwork with the following hashtags on Social Media: #HolocaustMemorialDay #LightTheDarkness

03/02/21
Q&A session, with Holocaust survivors, Peter Summerfield BEM and his twin brother George – Organised by University of Sussex [Online Event]

From the University of Sussex website:
A pre-recorded video interview of Peter and George talking about their escape from Nazi Germany will be sent to you on Holocaust Memorial day, 27 January 2021, to watch at a convenient time prior to our Zoom event.

Then, a week later, our special Zoom session, will enable you to interact with the brothers and ask them any questions that you may have about what was discussed in the video and of the brothers’ lives under the Nazi regime.

For more details and joining information, please see the Sussex booking page. Attendance is free with a donation to help support the work of the Centre for German-Jewish Studies at the University of Sussex.

Black history events throughout the year

October marks the Black History Month celebrations. The University of Brighton’s Race and Faith Network’s position is that Black History is an intrinsic part of British history and continues beyond 31st October. Nonetheless, this is a time when the Higher Education sector and many others dedicate greater resources to mark the celebrations that started in America in 1926. Below is a list of events planned across the country that you might be able to join or follow. As a disclaimer, the RFN takes no responsibility for any aspects of these events. Our aim is simply to bring them to your attention.


September

22/09/2020Black History Month: Brown Babies digital exhibition22 September – 31 October 2020, 10:00 – 18:00OnlineThe Mixed Museum is delighted to present this special exhibition curated by Professor Lucy Bland, based on her book Britain’s ‘Brown Babies’: the Stories of Children Born to Black GIs and White Women in the Second World War.
Event presented as part of Black History Month.

Dates Title Source/Time Comments
11/09/2020 Educating out racism Laila El-Metoui Recording

October

Dates Title Source/Time Comments
07/10/2020 “Why Black people are more likely to die from COVID-19: It’s not all down to deprivation, co-morbidities or genetics” The School of Health, Sport and Bioscience and the Office for Institutional Equity, University of East London

12:00 – 13:00

Recording: Dr Winston Morgan, Reader in Toxicology and Clinical Biochemistry
07/10/2020 #Black in the Ivory Conference

(repeated 09 and 14/10/2020)

University of Birmingham

 

13:00 – 16:00

A FREE one-day, online conference advocating for positive changes in equality and inclusion within the Higher Education sector
11/09/2020 Educating out racism Laila El-Metoui

 

Recording
14/10/2020 Hidden Sussex University of Brighton

4.30 – 5.30pm

Join this fascinating discussion and learn more about the hidden stories of Sussex. You’ll hear from Sally-Claire Fadelle, L Oluwafemi Hughes Jonas, Georgina Parke, Annie Richardson, and Sonny Singh. The session will be co-facilitated by Writing Our Legacy Chair, Amy Zamarripa Solis and Dr Jess Moriarty, Principal Lecturer – School of Humanities.
18/10/2020 Pan-African Congress 75th Anniversary Celebrations PAC@75

 

18th October

Recording: In conversation with Lemn Sissay
21/10/2020 Let’s Talk About Race Equality | “Are We Missing the Point – Diversity or True Inclusion?” In conversation with Gillian Joseph, Sky News Presenter (Wednesday 21st October 2020 | 1 – 3pm). Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)

13:00 – 15:00

Gillian Joseph is the Sky News Award Winning Presenter who anchored the special global “Black Lives Matter“ debate on sky news on 16th June 2020. The programme on “Race and Revolution: Is Change Going to Come” attracted a panel of experts including Actor David Oyelowo, Advertisement Executive Karen Blackett, Historian David Olusoga and Ex-Universities Minister Sam Gyimah.
21/10/2020 Be Ambitious and Model Excellence Oxford Brooks University

 

18:00 – 20:00

Redefining “BAME” as we celebrate renowned black figures who dare to [B]e [A]mbitious and [M]odel [E]xcellence highlighting their goals and recognisable achievements. Hosted by Lydiah Igweh, chair of Oxford Brookes BAME Staff Network and director of Brookes Enterprise Support.

November

Dates Title Source/Time Comments
12/11/2020 Black Students’ Experiences in Higher Education: Real World Problems & Solutions London South Bank University

 

18:00 – 20:00

What are the actions that will improve the experience and academic outcomes for Black allied health professions students?

This event will be delivered virtually

23/11/2020 The Black 14 – Sport, student protest & social justice University of Manchester

18:00 – 19:00

Pre-screened film and live panel discussion featuring Dr Jamal Ratchford and former Wyoming Cowboys John Griffin, Mel Hamilton and Tony McGee.