University of Bedfordshire host two free events for Black History Month 2021

October is Black History Month, and Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are encouraging everyone to take the opportunity to learn more about Black history and heritage in Bedford Borough and beyond.

To mark Black History Month 2021, the University of Bedfordshire are holding two free online events on consecutive days next week. On 6th October they are holding an evening with Professor David Olusoga OBE who will reveal the absence of Black history and Black role models in Britain's education and explores how Black Britons stamped their presence and their experiences onto the British national story over the past 50 years. On 7th October the University's Race Equality Network will be joined by Professor Charles Egbu to discuss his journey to becoming the UK's first black university Vice-Chancellor.

Last year Kingsbrook Ward Liberal Democrat Councillor Patrick Solomon put forward a council motion in support of the Windrush generation and their families, which won unanimous support at a Full Council meeting last year. He said that "Now more than ever, it is so important to take some time over the next month to think and learn about Black history within Bedford and the rest of the country. I'm so pleased that the University are holding these talks to raise awareness of the struggle that Black Britons have faced and continue to face. I hope that through educating ourselves on our past we are better able to understand each other and spread love not hate."

As well as the online talks at the University of Bedfordshire, throughout October The Higgins Bedford will be displaying their online 'Paved with Gold' exhibition on Bedford's Windrush Generation.