Black History Month

Black History Month

Saluting our Sisters

1 October 2023 marks the beginning of Black History Month, widely regarded as one of the most prominent cultural celebrations of the year. Honouring the contributions made to society by people of Black heritage and their communities, Black History Month is a time to educate and enrich the world with the importance of Black history.

Black History Month is a time to reflect, recognise and celebrate the achievements made by those of African descendants. As we look forward and back in time, we strive to move the dial forward to expose the hidden gems of our culture, experience and history.

In the month of October, we have a number of things happening, and so it is an opportunity for us to come together and support each other to make difference in our present and our future.

Our programme of events provides a fresh reminder of our continuous engagement by focusing on our history, health, education, research, art, black authors, businesses, and community services, to name just a few. We want people from all backgrounds to come along to learn, discuss and celebrate the black experience.

Contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team if you have any questions: equality@wlv.ac.uk 

A selection of books written by black authors

A selection of books written by black authors

  • Understanding and Managing Sophisticated and Everyday Racism: Implications for Education and Work by Carol Tomlin and Victoria Showunmi
  • The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
  • Rising to the surface by Lenny Henry
  • You Are a Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be by Marcus Rashford
  • Black Girls must be Magic by Jayne Allen
  • The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
  • The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano With a foreword by David Olusoga
  • My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay
  • Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair by Ella McLeod
  • We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney by Okechukwu Nzelu
  • The 392 by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
  • Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez
  • I know why the cage bird sings by Maya Angelou
  • White Teeth by Zadie smith
  • Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
  • Precious: a true story by Precious Williams
  • The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness by Paul Gilroy
  • Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
  • Liccle bit by Alex Wheatle
  • The water dancer by Ta- Nehisi Coates
  • Black and British: A short, essential history by David Olusoga
  • Think Like a White Man: Conquering the World... While Black by Nels Abbey
  • More Fiya: A New Collection of Black British Poetry by Kayo Chingonyi
  • The Unchained Goddess: Stories written by powerful female black leaders from around the world by Tierra Womack, Andrea Jones, et al.
  • Girl, Woman, Other: winner of the booker prize 2019 by Bernardine Evaristo
  • Eloquent rage: A black Feminist Discovers her superpower by Brittney Cooper
  • The new Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of color blindness by Michelle Alexander
  • Long Song by Andrea Levy
  • Incomparable World by S. I. Martin and Bernardine Evaristo
  • We Should All Be Feminists: Chimamanda Ngozi
  • Adichie by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire - The Sunday Times Bestseller by Akala
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

  • Hey You! by Dapo Adeola
  • Amber Undercover by Em Norry
  • Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence
  • Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
  • The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
  • Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
  • Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle
  • Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
  • The Upper World by Femi Fadugba
  • Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard
  • When life give you mangoes by Kereen Getten
  • Clean up by Nathan Bryon and Dapa Adeola
  • Amari and The night brother by B.B Alston
  • Look up by Nathan Bryon and illustrated by Dapa Adeola
  • Coming to England by Fleolla Benjamin and Diane Ewen
  • High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson
  • Young gifted and black by Jamia Wilson and illustrated Andrea Pippins
  • Little Leaders: bold women in history by Vashti Harrison
  • Hair love by Matthew Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison
  • Fruits around the world: Colouring book for children and adults by Dr Juliet Drummond

Find more events

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS