The College’s Diversity Coordinator, Monica Medina, shares her views and more information on the activity taking place across FVC in support of Black History Month 2021.
Since 1987, October has been Black History Month in the UK, a time where we celebrate the contributions of Black Britons. Over the years, there have been controversies around what exactly Black History Month means but previous omission of the contributions of Black citizens is a result of centring the priorities of those in power at the time. Although racism is inevitably intertwined with the reason we observe Black History Month, it is not the core message.
Celebration is the central idea and this year’s theme, Proud to be Me, really highlights how our race is an integral part of who we are and how we experience life. In the 1970s when trade unionists were organizing to fight racial discrimination the term politically black was coined. This is why in the UK Black History is open to both Black and Brown people—people who have been racialized historically. This approach makes good sense in the Scottish context because of the low non-white population. At the same time it is important to remember that people of African and Caribbean dissent have a unique experience to Asian or other people of colour. Maintaining focus on the origin of the celebration is vital to ensuring that exclusion does not occur in effort to broaden efforts of inclusion.
This year we have the privilege of hosting Mara Menzies, storyteller, who through a mix of truth, legend and fantasy we can explore the contemporary effects of colonialism and slavery. We also have a fabulous range of materials which have been created by our Media students that explore similar themes in personal ways. The Student Association will be holding a Show Racism the Red Card event which challenges prejudice through the unifying pleasure of football. I hope that you can incorporate some small change within your own remit at the College to broaden our work behind Black History Month whether that is taking part in the storytelling event, signing a pledge, including Black stories in the curriculum or opening up conversations around racism.
In August 2020 FVC signed up to the sector-wide declaration:
Racism exists in our on our campuses and in our society. Call it what is and reject it in all its forms. We stand united against racism.
In order to realize this promise we are also embarking on an Anti-Racist action plan. Central to this plan is creating awareness around how our practices are inclusive or exclusive and creating change cooperatively. Key to making our organization Anti-Racist is looking at the good and the bad; without a full perspective we will be ineffective. However, this month let the joy of the celebration lead us into the more challenging work of the action plan.