Epsom College has planned a host of activities and events in celebration of Black History Month, the second year the College has taken part in this global initiative. Last October, a group of Sixth Form students made a request that Black History Month be acknowledged and celebrated at Epsom College since the country’s first celebration in London, in 1987. The celebrations were condensed to a week, but year on year, the aim is to recognise the contributions of African, Asian and Caribbean people through the curriculum, assemblies, productions and our practices and procedures.
Why do we celebrate?
Black History Month is a celebration that started in the United States to partially remedy the lack of visibility and acknowledgment of the works and contribution of Black Americans to the country’s development throughout history.
This year’s activities
Throughout the month, Main Corridor
We are most grateful to Mr Nikolas Arvanitis, the Head of Art, for curating a display that celebrates artists who have consciously decided to centre their practice around issues of race, ranging from social inequality and injustice to celebration and optimism.
Perhaps the most famous image is Chris Ofili’s painting No Woman, No Cry, a profile painting of Doreen Lawrence, the mother of the murdered teenager, Stephen Lawrence. It conveys her devastation of this senseless murder.
As with all great art, the work benefits from giving it your time and attention. Walk along the Main Corridor past reception for your viewing pleasure.
14 October, Big School
Black History Month Extravaganza: Celebrating Black artists, songwriters, composers and poets
6.30pm, Big School
- All pupils regardless of race, colour or creed are welcome to participate in song, dance, spoken word, rap, hip hop or other expressions of artistry.
Monday 18 to Friday 22 October, Dining Hall
Black History Month ‘Come and Taste’ Week
- Each day a different country’s cuisine will be celebrated at lunchtime, allowing pupils and staff the chance to try dishes from countries within Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
- On Tuesday there will be a choice between food from the Philippines and India,
- On Wednesday there will be food from the Caribbean and southern USA
- On Thursday there will be food from Nigeria
- On Friday there will be food from Romania.Each dish has been recommended to us and will be cooked with the help of someone native to the country it is representing.
Monday 18 October
African Caribbean Education Network will be facilitating workshops with all the Lower School and Middle Fourth.
Students will be discussing what they do when racism occurs and how to handle the situation more effectively. We are grateful to the Sixth Formers who will be assisting with these discussions.
Wednesday 20 October, Chapel
Pastor Lincoln Serwanga of Liberty Christian Fellowship will be delivering the short message. He has been a minister for over 30 years and an author of Seven Key Principles to Unlock your Destiny. His message will be centred around ‘A Sense of Belonging.’
Friday 22 October
Epsom College’s second Black History Month film night. This is year will be watching Black Panther, the 2018 American film based on the Marvel Comic character of the same name.
Black Panther is the first Marvel Studios film with a black director and a predominantly black cast. Many critics considered the film to be one of the best in the Marvel Comic Universe and it was also noted for its cultural significance.
In support of Show Racism the Red card, attendees are requested to wear something red to the film. You are all welcome to attend, next Friday in Big School.
