Dr Javeria Khadija Shah, Central’s Associate Director of the Centre for Inclusive Pedagogy and Practice, gives an overview of Black History 365, a model of learning, teaching, and creative practice.
Black History Interruptions
‘The Black History 365 project took place originally as Black History Interruptions back in 2019. When I came up with this concept of interrupting negative connotations around Black history; that Black history was somehow removed from mainstream history, that Black history somehow didn’t have the same significance to the social advancement and modernity that we all enjoy and and talk about.
I wanted to address the omissions and the erasures. I wanted to address the idea of Black history of being entirely, rooted in colonial trauma and not at all celebrating or recognizing the fantastic contributions of Black siblings, in making us the advanced societies that we are today. So this idea of interruptions was to interrupt these quite kind of biased, prejudicial positions and takes on history.’
Collaboration
‘My first collaboration was with the Centre for Race Education and Coloniality at Leeds Beckett University. And this was represented through Dr Shona Hunter. We worked closely to put together a programme of week-long events for Black History Interruptions that represented the first of its kind collaboration between a university on a theme like this where you had students from both locations able to attend events across campuses.’
Black History 365
‘So Black History 365 is a programme that celebrates, ideas, thoughts, and historical narratives. It provides platforms for emerging thinkers, emerging artists, particularly those who are of African descent or from or of Global Majority diasporas that align with Black history contexts; be it through research, be it through practice. It’s been a work in progress.
It was originally launched with a public lecture series. And now, we have a range of different events that shape the contributions that we’re making through this. Since this year we’ve been collaborating with the London Arts Humanities Partnership (LAHP). The programme of events that we’ve been putting on have been through, collaboration with LAHP and the associated colleges, has been really exciting. We’ve been holding events at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, as well as Senate House. I would strongly encourage you to keep coming back and checking on the Black History 365 page for updates.’
Click on the video below to hear more about Black History 365 from Dr Javeria Khadija Shah.
Visit the Black History 365 webpage for more information about the programme including links to events, and recordings of past events via the YouTube channel.
