Black History Month
Throughout October, we celebrate Black History Month.
Black History Month educates people on the achievements and contributions African and Caribbean heritage peoples have made to the UK’s history and culture.
The theme for Black History Month UK 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that define the Black community across the globe. This year, the theme highlights the profound contributions made by Black people, be they leaders, activists, or pioneers who have shaped history, while also looking towards a future of continued empowerment, unity, and growth.
Find out more
Advancing race equality at Strathclyde
As a socially progressive and people-oriented organisation, the University of Strathclyde strives to be an inclusive community which recognises the potential, talents and contribution of all people.
We greatly value the diversity of our student and staff populations, and seek to create a culture where everyone is welcome and thrives within our institution, and are treated fairly and with respect.
We're committed to creating an environment for students, staff and visitors in which behaviours that detract from the safety and collegiality of our University are not tolerated. The University will take prompt action in response to any alleged discrimination, victimisation, or harassment based on race and ethnicity, nationality, and religion and belief.
Race Equality Steering Group
The Race Equality Steering Group (RESG) was established in September 2023 with the goal of advocating for and ensuring an inclusive, welcoming, and equitable working and learning environment for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) students and staff. The RESG will actively promote racial diversity in our teaching and learning while improving educational and employment outcomes for BAME students and staff through our culture, structures, and processes.
The RESG is the successor to the Race Equality Working Group (REWG), which was convened to inform the advancement of race equality work at Strathclyde. From 2020 to 2022, the University’s Race Equality Working Group led a program of sector scoping, consulted with staff and students, and analysis of ethnicity data. The three main strands of the recommendations are Challenging Racism, Representation, as well as Belonging and Visibility.
In September 2023, the University established the permanent Race Equality Steering Group (RESG) to carry forward this work and implement the recommendations, reporting directly to the University’s central EDI Committee.
From September 2024, Dr Elaine Webster has assumed the role of Chairperson for the Race Equality Steering Group. Dr Webster is a Reader in the Law School and has served since 2022 as Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The RESG is sponsored by Professor Douglas Brodie, Associate Principal for Social Inclusion.
To proactively address matters of race equality, in June 2023 the university appointed a Senior Race Equality Officer. This focused addition to the Equality and Diversity Office underscores the University's determination to better understand, address, and challenge existing racial disparities. For more information about the RESG or matters of race equality at the University of Strathclyde, please contact Jennifer Ba (Senior Race Equality Officer) at: Jennifer.ba@strath.ac.uk.
Report & Support
If you experience or witness racism, bullying, harassment and violence on campus and/or relating to university staff and students, you can report this via Strathclyde’s Report & Support system. Reports can be made anonymously.
Training & Development
The Equality and Diversity Office offers a suite of training sessions on topics related to race and racism, including in-person and online sessions. Staff can sign up for sessions via the DAT booking system (links below). If you would like to book a session for your team or department, please email us at equality@strath.ac.uk.
Microbehaviours
This session considers microbehaviours, from microaggressions to microaffirmations, and how they can shape our daily lives. Participants will be given practical skills for addressing microaggressions and will put them to use through group work and case studies.
Allyship
This session covers the basics of allyship, why it matters, and practical ways to become an effective ally to marginalised groups, with a particular focus on sexism and racism. Through interactive activities and group work, participants will build a solid foundation from which to develop their allyship.
Anti-Racism workshop
This two-hour interactive session is an introduction to the topic of Anti-Racism. Participants will develop confidence with terminology around race; explore structural racism through the lens of unequal structures in Scotland and in Higher Education; reflect on privilege and power in daily life, and discover practical steps towards anti-racism.
This course was developed by the Equality & Diversity Office and draws upon relevant evidence, sector-wide research, and work undertaken by the Race Equality Steering Group.
Intersectionality
Intersectionality, a term coined by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes the study of overlapping identities and the interaction between different power structures. In this workshop, participants will be provided with a safe space to reflect on intersecting identities such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability, and many others. By applying an intersectional framework, participants will be better equipped at identifying the impact of overarching power structures and comprehensively address inequality.
Please visit our staff courses webpage to view our full training & development offering.
Race Equality Charter
The University is a member of the Advance HE Race Equality Charter programme, and is currently working towards submission for an award. The Race Equality Charter helps institutions in their work to identify and address the barriers facing Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students, while also providing a framework for action and improvement.
Further information about the Race Equality Charter is available from Advance HE.
Black History 365 Playlist
This playlist includes a list of films, documentaries and radio programmes celebrating Black history. Login using your University details.
Black History Month - Queer History Playlist
A playlist focusing on the lives and works of Black queer people. While most items feature explicitly queer stories, some focus on people's contributions to their field or the culture. Content Disclaimer: some items in this list may contain outdated or offensive language, including misgendering.
Black History Month book display
This book display celebrates Black History Month. This list focuses on the lives and stories of Black people.
The display is in-person, but items can be found online via a Libguide.
- Time: Library opening hours
- Location: Level 3 of the library
Soul Food Sisters baking session
As part of the Black History Month celebrations, the Strathclyde Institute of Education is hosting a baking session by Soul Food Sisters. Soul Food Sisters are a group of migrant women based in the East End of Glasgow. This is a vibrant collective inspired by authentic recipes from diverse homelands and committed to sharing great food with as many people as possible and strengthening cultural links in Scotland. Only ethically sourced food is used.
- Date/time: 27 October 2025, 2pm to 4pm
- Location: Curran Building, Level 6, CU633, University of Strathclyde
Sign up for this event - places are limited
Lab Notes on Identity: A personal and professional exploration of science, society, and self
Join Dr Kiani Jeacock, Teaching Associate in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, for a personal and thought-provoking talk in recognition of Black History Month. Drawing on her research career in biochemistry and neurodegeneration, and her experiences as a woman of colour in STEM, Kiani reflects on the intersection of scientific discovery, identity and social change.
This talk offers both an exciting exploration of science and an honest account of what it means to pursue an academic career against a backdrop of wider cultural and historical inequality.
- Date/time: Thursday, 30 October, 12pm to 1pm
- Location: Room HW111-114 , SIPBS, John Arbuthnott building (The Hamnett wing)
More information & resources
If you are looking for more information about staff networks and groups, learning & development or Diversifying and Decolonising the Curriculum please visit our Race Equality Webpages.