Black History Month events

The University of Lincoln is delighted to celebrate Black History Month 2022, as it is a chance for all within our community to learn about black history, and provides an opportunity to build on our One Community values.

As part of its central strategic lead for equality, diversity and inclusion, the Eleanor Glanville Institute has coordinated a programme of activities for our community to participate in. This includes events run by Reimagining Lincolnshire and the University Library.

Lost Sculptor of Lincolnshire Exhibition – Hosted by Reimagining Lincolnshire – October through to December
Location: Ground Floor of University Library

Mahomet Thomas Phillips is one of Lincolnshire’s greatest forgotten artists. Born in the Congo in the 1870s, he lived and worked in the county for most of his long career. His sculpture adorns parish churches and war memorials and can also be found in cathedrals and castles up and down the land – and beyond! This exhibition introduces his life and work, in an attempt to recover his place at the forefront of artistic creativity in the county in the early twentieth century. No booking is required for this exhibition.

Talk on Mahomet Thomas Phillips and his work – hosted by Reimagining Lincolnshire and St. Chad’s Church, Dunholme – Time and date TBC
Location: St. Chad’s Church, Dunholme, LN2 3QT

Mahomet Thomas Phillips is one of Lincolnshire’s greatest forgotten artists. Born in the Congo in the 1870s, he lived and worked in the county for most of his long career. His sculpture adorns parish churches and war memorials and can also be found in cathedrals and castles up and down the land – and beyond! This talk will include special guests such as members of Mahomet Thomas Phillips family.

Forgotten? An exhibition on black and brown Royal Air Force personnel in the Second World War – hosted by Reimagining Lincolnshire and the IBCC Digital Archive, sponsored by the Eleanor Glanville Institute – Throughout October
Location: TBC

The contributions and experiences of service personnel of colour are still largely absent. Our popular image of the RAF in the Second World War remains one of whiteness. This exhibition highlights the experiences of Black and Brown personnel in an effort to ensure that their stories are incorporated into the mainstream narrative, rather than always being treated as somehow separate. Many of the stories proposed for this exhibition have not been told before. No booking is required for this exhibition.

Black lives, intersectionality and the workplace – Tuesday 18 October – 4pm – 6pm
Location: Nichola de la Haye Building – NDH1010

A panel of postgraduate students studying equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the Eleanor Glanville Institute (EGI) will be discussing their research about Black individuals within the workplace and the intersectionality of their identities. This will be followed by networking and refreshments.

Kwame Akoto – Wednesday 19 October – Via Zoom – 6pm-7.30pm

Kwame Akoto is a Ghanaian sculptor. His outdoor sculpture dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Transatlantic slave trade is on display at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice that opened in 2018 in Montgomery, Alabama. His other sculptures include an installation of 1,200 concrete heads representing Ghana’s enslaved ancestors in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Called Faux-Reedom, it was unveiled in 2017. For more details on this event, please email the Eleanor Glanville Institute on egi@lincoln.ac.uk

Connected Heritage & Reimagining Lincolnshire: Black History Month Wikithon (in collaboration with the Library) – Thursday 20 October – 1pm-4.30pm

You are invited to learn Wikipedia basics and make some edits to highlight some of the stories and people with connections to Lincolnshire uncovered by the research team at Reimagining Lincolnshire. This event is a part of Wikimedia UK Connected Heritage project, which is funded by DCMS and The National Lottery through The Heritage Fund’s Digital Skills for Heritage initiative. Editathons aim to address the underrepresentation of people from the Global South, women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people in Wikipedia entries and among contributors. The event will take place online via Zoom and there will also be email communication before the event for all those registered to make sure attendees are prepared. Book your space here.

Lincoln’s Black History Trail – hosted by Reimagining Lincolnshire – Tuesday 25 October – 10am-12pm
Meet at 10am outside the front entrance of University Library

Reimagining Lincolnshire has devised Lincoln’s first black history trail – look for leaflets around campus from mid-October for self-guided tours. Or join our guided tour! There is no need to book, but for more information email Victoria Araj on varaj@lincoln.ac.uk.

The Hidden Black Presence, Theology and Education in Lincolnshire: hosted by Reimagining Lincolnshire and BGU – Monday 31 October – 4pm–6pm
Location: Chapel, Bishop Grosseteste University

BGU is pleased to announce a joint Conference hosted by Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste Universities which will explore neglected contributions of its Black population. Speakers at the event will include Dr Reverend Peter Green, Professor Heather Hughes, Dr Victoria Araj and Kathryn Eleanor Cotton-Betteridge. There will be opportunities for questions to speakers at a discussion chaired by Dr Sheine Peart a live audience. Book your place here.

Reimagining Lincolnshire Reading Group – Via Zoom – Dates and times TBC 

The Reimagining Lincolnshire reading group is a space to discuss and learn from books that have links to the diverse history of the county. We tend to meet once every two months to discuss a chapter or part of a certain book. We are open to book suggestions too. For more information, contact Victoria Araj on varaj@lincoln.ac.uk.

University Library: Black History 2022 reading list

This year we want to hear from you and find out what you have been reading. Get thinking about what texts, films, TV or radio programmes have had an impact on you.

– Are there particular texts, authors, films etc that have had a profound influence on you?

– Is there a film that you think everyone should see?

– Have you felt low or disempowered and been helped by a particular text?

– Are there texts that have motivated you to do more or challenge the status quo?

– Some texts might be challenging or triggering – let us know if we need to include a warning

– Tell us the reason for your choice of book or other resource.

Email Oonagh Monaghan on omonaghan@lincoln.ac.uk with your suggestions

They will be added to the Black History reading list

University Library: Display and showcase of materials

In addition to a display by the Reimagining Lincolnshire team in the main University Library, there will be a promotion of new books and the resources recommended by staff and students. The Library will also promote these resources in a social media campaign over the month of October.

Book giveaway

Blackwells have agreed to donate some books and there will be a social media campaign and a chance for students to win a book.

Black History timeline

Throughout this month there will be a Black British History timeline on display in Minerva. Please take a moment to have a look through, celebrate, reflect, and be educated on some key moments in Black British History.