BU Research Blog

“At the Cross Roads for Freedom and Equality”

This month Bournemouth University is hosting a range of events in aid of Black History Month and are reaching out to students, staff and the public to attend. You can find out more about the events that are happening here, Black History Month 2013.

To register your attendance, please book here.

14th October, 15:00-16:30, S202 Studland House, Lansdowne Campus

Professor Elizabeth Anionwu, “Mary Seacole – Her Relevance in Today’s NHS”

Professor Elizabeth Anionwu (CBE, FRCN) was the first ever UK sickle cell and Thalassemia nurse counsellor. Her focus on multi-ethnic aspects of nursing and midwifery education, practice and research led her to set up The Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice at Thames Valley University, now the University of West London.

Elizabeth will be promoting the life of Mary Seacole, the Jamaican/Scottish Victorian doctress-nurse of the Crimean war, giving you the opportunity to learn about her life, experiences, challenges and recognition. You will also have the opportunity to discuss the relevance in which this has in today’s NHS and nursing.

17th October, 12:00-13:00, BG11, Bournemouth House, Lansdowne Campus

Dr. Farhad Dalal, “Corrupting the Liberal Ideal: Tolerance and discrimination in society and its organisations”

Dr. Farhad Dalal is a psychotherapist and Group Analyst in private practice in Devon.

Since the McPherson report, the law requires organizations to proactively address institutionalized unfair discriminatory practices, which they do through the use of ‘trainings’, proceduralisation, etc. Yet despite these efforts and the rhetoric of tolerance and inclusivity proclaimed in equal opportunity statements, women constituted just 1.6% of the conductors in BBC Proms 2010; out of 14000 professors in the UK, just 50 are Black. Why is this?

Some of the reasons why the equalities project has not progressed as much as it might have are due to the bureaucratisation of the values of Equality. This has allowed the liberal principle of ‘live and let live’ to be perverted and put in the service of fear and control.

Moreover, the Diversity discourse has been hijacked by the libertarians and put in the service of increasing profit, under the guise of inclusivity. But also, the equality movements have themselves contributed to this situation. Particularly the ‘celebrators of diversity’ who being apolitical, have sidetracked the project into promoting the indiscriminate celebration and preservation of cultures, in lieu of challenging the status quo within cultures as much as between them.

21st October, 13:00-14:00, BG14, Bournemouth House, Lansdowne Campus

Louisa Adjoa Parker, “We were here: African American Gls in Dorset”

Louisa Adjoa Parker is a British Ghanaian poet and historian who lives in Dorset. Louisa will be holding an exhibition “1944 We Were Here: African Gls in Dorset” which explores the stories of the black Gls who came to Dorset to train for D-Day. It is a collection of stories, images and craft pieces which were inspired by the research.

24th October, 10:00-12:00, BG11, Bournemouth House, Lansdowne Campus

David Michael, “A positive Voice in a Public Sector Organisation”

David Michael is a former Detective Chief Inspector. At this event David will share the challenges and barriers faced by BME people in large public sector organisations and what steps he took to overcome them to become successful and beneficial to the organisation and the BME members.

Some of David’s professional achievements include:

• Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (PLSGCM) from Metropolice Commissioner Sir Paul (now) Lord Condon at a ceremony at the Peel Centre, Hendon in September 1995.

• Winner of Windrush Achievements Award 2000 in the Uniformed Services Pioneer category.

• Man of Merit at the Executive and Professionals Network (EPN) Men of Merit recognition evening on 24 November 2001. In recognition of contribution to policing in London and supporting colleagues and communities.

24th October, 14:00-16:00, BG11, Bournemouth House, Lansdowne Campus

Clive Clarke, “My Journey”

Clive Clarke is deputy chief executive at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust. Clive will be telling us about the challenges he’s faced and what it took to overcome them. He will set out his vision for the future success of BME people in a Public Sector organisation as big as the NHS.

1st November, 9:30-11:00, Lees Lecture Theatre, Talbot Campus

BYD.D. Armstrong, “YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE”

You Know What You Are… is a one-act play that explores the theme of racism in football and asks what does it mean to wear club colours.
Winston and Jeff are lifelong supporters of Stamford United, but when their team captain Jason Chapman is accused of racially abusing an opposition player, and the only black member of the team is asked to don a t-shirt saying ‘Innocent Till Proven Guilty’ their friendship is divided over club loyalty and racial responsibility.
Meanwhile… Defender Damion Dixon is the only black player or half black player at Stamford United. A rising star with an international call up on the horizon, his career and professionalism is a called into account, when he is pressured to show support for his teammate.