Covid-19, global #blacklivesmatter protests and rising economic inequality. If this year has highlighted anything to us, it is the importance of Black History Month. To move forward for a better tomorrow, we must look both at the past to see how we got here and to look at the present to understand what “here” is.  

  In terms of history, there are many important parts of our own lives in Glasgow that were heavily influenced by the mistakes of the past. Like our own university profiting from the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. Or the fact that the university was built on the former estate of a slave owner. Or even more topically, how racism in the UK from the 60s and 70s has led to people from BAME backgrounds being more likely to be severely affected by the pandemic. Learning about this part of our history is essential as it helps us understand why the world is the way it is now, and it can help us empathize with how minorities in the UK live their lives.  

  It’s not just remembering and learning about the horrors of the past that’s important. Celebrating the achievements and victories of black history is also an equally important aspect of the month. There is no better time than now to read about the stories that our education systems have failed to tell us. Like the story of Asquith Xavier, a train guard recognised for his contribution towards achieving equality in employment laws in 1966. Or Margaret Busby, the first black woman publisher in the 1960s. To learn more about the influential Black people in the history of the UK, I highly recommend www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk.  

  While the past will always be the central focus of Black History Month, I think we should also appreciate the efforts of today. It's important to celebrate and support black culture in the present, whether that is through learning more about African/Caribbean culture through books and film, appreciating black artists or supporting local black businesses. When it comes to celebrating black culture on campus, I think that the African Caribbean Society does it best.  

  Only 2.4% of Glasgow’s population identify as Black. You wouldn’t need to tell any new or returning black students this percentage for us to know how isolating that often feels, especially if we’re from an area more diverse than Glasgow. For a lot of new students, it could be their first time living away from home. They no longer have their support network or their family right beside them. It can feel almost intimidating to be thrown into this new environment.  

 And it’s for that reason that having the African Caribbean Society is so great. It’s a place on campus where you don’t have to feel so alone or intimidated. Even just knowing that society existed was really comforting for me when I started my first year. It’s a place where you can meet a community that you can relate to and talk about all sorts of things from your home country to (most importantly) African/Caribbean food.  

 As a society, they contribute a lot to the university lifestyle. On their social media (and in-person) you can find all sorts of recommendations for things to do in Glasgow. You can find food places like Calabash Restaurant and the Rumshack, as well as the locations of all the best African grocery stores. They host all sorts of events for their members ranging from potlucks to Afrobeats Hive. They are also collaborating with other student bodies like the students of colour network and the SRC to host events this month (I’m personally excited for the entertainment night they have at the end of October).  

 So, during this month and onwards, take the time to remember the past and celebrate the present. Learn about different cultures and the struggles of black people throughout time. Make the effort this year, because now more than ever, it’s important to understand each other so that we can stand together.