Our Events Roundup is dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month. Our top picks include talks from Black authors and activists through Penguin Live and Hachette’s BAME networks, book clubs and book readings, an interactive workshop to increase confidence in writing about Black lives and Black history, an anthology showcasing diverse African women’s writings and a lecture discussing the impact of lived experiences of racism.
THRIVE Hachette’s Black History Month
THRIVE is Hachette’s BAME Employee Network which aims to build people up, bring people together and build cultural awareness.
Black Activism
When: Wednesday 21 October, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom (donation based)
Part of Hachette’s Black History Month series in which Arike Oke, Managing Director of the Black Cultural Archives, will be in discussion with activists and Hachette authors. Alexandra Wilson, Patrick Vernon and Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu will discuss their roles as strong activists for Black people in their respective fields, the importance of activism in everyday life and the Black Britons that have inspired them.
Publishers and Agents of Tomorrow
When: Thursday 29 October, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom (donation based)
Join Hachette’s Black History Month series with an evening aimed at the publishers and agents of tomorrow. The event will be chaired by Sharmaine Lovegrove (Publisher of Dialogue Books) and feature Kwaku Osei-Afrifa (Editorial Assistant at Hodder Studio), Nelle Andrew (Agent at Rachel Mills Literary) and Silé Edwards (Agent at Mushens Entertainment). All proceeds from this talk will be donated to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. This talk is limited to 100 people on a first-come basis.
Other Events
The First Woman with author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
When: Monday 26 October, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Online
Join prize-winning Ugandan novelist and short story writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi to discuss her new novel. The First Woman follows Kirabo on her journey to become a young woman and to find her place in the world, as the dictatorship of Idi Amin transforms her country.
Black Poetry Night
When: Tuesday 27 October, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Online (Free)
This event celebrates Black voices in Nottingham and is presented by the Sutton Bonington student-staff Equality Diversion and Inclusion team group at the University of Nottingham. You will need to register for this free event.
23rd Gwendolyn Brooks Black Writers’ Conference 2020
When: Wednesday 28 October, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST and Thursday 29 October, 2:30-4:30 p.m. CST
Where: Online
Join Chicago State University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Centre for Black Literature and Creative Writing for a literary celebration of Black love! ‘Quite a Time for Loving: Black Love in the New Century’ is a free online conference open to the public. See the full schedule on Eventbrite.
Black History Month: Reading Group
When: Wednesday 28 October, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Online (Free)
Run by the Kingston University Reading Group and Kingston Libraries as part of the University’s celebration of British Black History, the reading group will discuss Candice Carty-Williams’ best-selling novel Queenie.
Identifying Your Voice: Black History Month Special
When: Wednesday 28 October, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual event, tickets £11.37 via Eventbrite
Join workshop facilitator and scholar Dr Michelle Asantewa for an interactive workshop aiming to boost the confidence of budding writers when writing about Black history and Black lives, both from a personal and collective viewpoint.
Alicia Garza for Penguin Live: The Purpose of Power
When: Wednesday 28 October, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual event, tickets including a copy of Alicia’s book.
In a special event hosted by Penguin Live and the Southbank Centre, Alicia Garzia will be discussing her experience co-founding the Black Lives Matter Global Network and discuss how to work towards transforming Black communities, both locally and nationally.
RIBA Black History Month Book Club
When: Thursday 29 October, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom (Free)
RIBA is bringing a wonderful book club to your screens in honour of Black History Month. The panel will be discussing their book recommendations which had profound effects on their lives. They will be looking at Natives - Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, Francis Kéré: Radically Simple and To be Young, Gifted and Black.
Black History Storytelling Workshop
When: Friday 30 October, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Zoom (free)
Hosted by Sickle Cell Society, this is an interactive storytelling workshop in celebration of Black History Month. The event is only open to ages 6-17 years.
Creative Conversations with Bernardine Evaristo
When: Friday 30 October, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom (free)
To celebrate Black History Month, the Creative Writing Programme of the University of Glasgow will be in conversation with author and activist Bernardine Evaristo who will be gifting the audience with a reading of her award-winning book.
White Supremacy: What You Need To Know
When: Saturday 31 October, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom (free)
Award-winning science journalist Angela Saini chairs this insightful event, discussing the impact of lived experiences of racism. To what extent has anti-racism been incorporated into the fight for gender equality? The panel will explore the legacy of racism on feminist movements and how we can better acknowledge oppression and overlapping identities.
New Daughters of Africa Online Event
When: Thursday 12 November, 1:45 p.m.
Where: Virtual event, ‘pay what you can’ tickets available here
Hosted by Myriad Editions in collaboration with London Library, this event will celebrate the diverse African women’s voices showcased in Myriad’s new anthology and will include readings from its contributors.