Zamzam Ibrahim, Vice President for Business and Law is leading a project with the Union on Black History Month (BHM). Here she shares her vision for Salford’s BHM.

“Many people will associate BHM with slavery and oppression and assume it’s a month that involves dwelling on the past. Some may envisage it producing crazy radical campaigners…..ermmm well kinda sorta! But it’s about more than that.

“BLACK HISTORY MONTH to me is a month of empowerment, enlightening, liberation and strength! It’s a month that humbles me, and allows me to stop and appreciate the true meaning of freedom. It empowers me and allows me to reflect on how far yet we have to go as a community.

“In my opinion, the colour Black has become a word associated with so much negativity and we should use this month to wash away that connotation, and inject positivity. It’s time we empower our young minds and move away from black and become more than just a colour!

“Salford’s greatest strength is our diversity, and it’s time to celebrate that diversity! As well as recognising achievements, history, identity and change we have so much to celebrate and there’s lots of fun things to incorporate our pride and celebration across our diverse community. I look forward to sharing our Black Hisotry Month journey together, as well as taking time to enjoy other great things in October like Nigerian Independence Day, Islamic New Year and let’s not forget about Halloween!

We will be calling our month ‘Honouring the past, Inspiring the future’ so please join me in this aim, as we embark on a journey to learn black history, celebrate black culture and empower diversity! check out the facebook events page and stayed tuned to our Twitter and Instagram feeds for all the updates.

Look forward to seeing you soon. 

Zamzam”