Blackness in Europe: Professional Learning Series
Join us for an enriching professional development series that examines the complexity of racial formations in the classroom by exploring Blackness in Europe. Through conversations with historians and guest speakers, we will uncover the legacies of key figures such as Nathaniel Wells, Shakespeare, and the Tudor period. We will also explore how technology can help bring these stories into the contemporary classroom in meaningful and engaging ways.
This series will delve into themes in art, literature, theater, and historical sources, using both primary and secondary materials to deepen our understanding of race and identity across time.
February 26th Defining Race in the Classroom
March 5th Restoring Voices in Europe Through Technology: Nathaniel Wells and John Blanke
March 12th Race & Antiquity
March 19th Race in the Iberian Peninsula
March 26th Rethinking the Tudor Period
The goal of the program will be to revise or craft a mini lesson pertaining to course topics! There will be a virtual curriculum showcase to be scheduled in April.
Sessions take place Wednesdays 5:00-7:00 PM beginning Wednesday, February 26th.
*Registration Required
Speakers
Michael I. Ohajuru is Senior Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, honours degrees in Physics (Leeds, 1974) and Art History (Open University, 2008), blogs, writes and speaks regularly on the Black presence in Renaissance Europe. Has spoken at the National Gallery, Tate Britain, British Library, National Archives and the Victoria Albert Museum. Featured in TV programs on BBC, ITV and Channel 5. Founder of Image of the Black in London Galleries a series of gallery tours , the Project Director and Chief Evangelist of The John Blanke Project: an Art and Archive project celebrating John Blanke the Black trumpeter to courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII , co-convener of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies What’s Happening in Black British History series of workshops and founder member of the Black Presence in British Portraiture network
Romain Muhammad is widely recognised for his expertise in EDI, specifically focusing on anti-racism, society and culture, class and social mobility, and diaspora/migration. He has appeared on several national media outlets as a representative and spokesperson for marginalised communities and has earned a reputation as a respected writer, public speaker, and social commentator.
Currently, he holds the prestigious position of Aziz Foundation Scholar at Birkbeck, University of London, where he conducts research on the histories and cartographies of 'race' and racism, culture, ethnicity, diaspora, and postcoloniality in post-war Britain. Romain is currently writing his debut book titled ‘The Others we Became’. He is also a member of the Royal Historical Society.
Additionally, Romain is the founder and CEO of Diversify World, a consultancy and recruitment agency dedicated to empowering marginalised communities in the professional world. He started Diversify World in 2023 after spending 15 years in corporate recruitment. He strongly believes that education is the starting point for businesses aiming to create truly inclusive, diverse, and equal practices.