What you can expect this October

Each year the University celebrates Black History Month, marking and exploring Black stories. Both past and present, highlighting achievements, lived experiences, and the cultural contributions of Black people.

What to expect & why it matters

• It's a month steeped in culture and reflection: Expect creative art, performance, discussion and celebration. Not just passive observance, but active engagement.
• Conversations about identity, heritage, and power: Many events focus on colonial legacy, whose history gets told, what stories are missing. Expect challenging but rewarding discussion.
• Community building: It’s a chance to connect with others who share experiences, but also to build bridges with people with different backgrounds.

What’s on

• “Infectious: Part One: Mad About The Boy” + Director’s Q&A (Saturday 11 October, 7.30pm, Attenborough Arts Centre) - A jazz-soul-poetry film inspired by poets, exploring emotional well-being in the diaspora. The screening is followed by a Q&A, making it a thoughtful choice if you’re into film, culture, Black identity, or mental health.

• Britain Re-Written: Discuss, Decode, Decolonise (Thursday 16 October, 5.00 - 9.00pm, Brookfield Building) - A panel event unpacking colonial legacies, archives, and museums—whose stories are told, and whose are left out. Great for students of history, heritage, politics, or anyone interested in memory and power.

• BAKUYARD Productions Presents: Whoodoo You Come From? (Sunday 19 October, 11.30am - 3.30pm, Attenborough Arts Centre) - A creative workshop blending ritual, art, music, and storytelling to explore ancestral roots. It’s reflective, interactive, and open to all (age 12+), so you can even bring younger siblings along.

• In Conversation with Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock DBE (Monday 27 October, 6.00 - 8.00pm, Sir Bob Burgess Lecture Theatre 2) - A chance to hear from Dame Maggie, the University’s Chancellor and one of the UK’s leading science communicators. Expect inspiring reflections on astronomy, outreach, leadership, and identity.

• WORD! & Renaissance One Special with John Agard (Thursday 30 October, 7.00 - 9.00pm, Attenborough Arts Centre) - An evening of poetry, performance, and a Caribbean-style “lime” (social gathering). Perfect for lovers of spoken word and cultural expression.

What you can do to make the most of Black History Month

1. Attend events: They offer both cultural enrichment and networking opportunities.
2. Use the career & leadership opportunities: sign up for programmes like the Black Leadership Development Programme or internships. They can boost your CV and help with professional development.
3. Get involved in student-led groups, such as ULSB Black Excellence, or contribute through Curriculum Consultants, or join forums that advise on the Black student experience. Help shape the culture and community at Leicester.
4. Use the wellbeing support if you need it. These topics (identity, belonging, mental health) are personal and can be heavy. Don’t hesitate to reach out via wellbeing services and peer-support.
5. Support local Black-owned business, by buying their products, using their services and spreading the word.

Check out the official University of Leicester BHM resource for more details.