The Open University’s OpenLearn is drawing people’s attention to Black History Month (BHM) through its ‘race and ethnicity hub’ to help people understand historic and contemporary ideas of race and racism.
It was developed after the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and draws together a collection of existing and new free resources including articles, videos, audios, timelines and courses.
To highlight BHM, the hub explores the themes of race, racism and ethnicity and serves as a showcase for the research undertaken by OU academics across the core faculty areas within The Open University.
How ideas of race alter decisions past and present
The aim is to show how ideas of race throughout history and today can influence the interactions and decisions made by individuals and organisations.
Topics range from society to science, money and business to nature and the environment, health to history and the arts.
Professor Marcia Wilson, Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the OU, said:
“Black History Month provides everyone with the opportunity to gain knowledge about events that have largely been omitted from the curriculum in schools and it also gives us the opportunity to challenge the history that is often presented as factual information.
“Black history is vast and rich to the extent that one month cannot do it justice. That is why ‘The Race and Ethnicity Hub’ is so important as it contributes to our education all year.
“Black history is not separate from British history – it is British history and a great opportunity to celebrate achievements and learn about events that changed the world.”
The Benin Bronzes
Find out what led to the Benin bronzes being dispersed around the world and the treatment of the Benin people; or read about ‘misogynoir’, what it means and how it affects Black women.
If you are an educator, read the article on including diversity in race, ethnicity and culture in your teaching. Then check out the free 12-hour course on ‘Historical perspective in race’.
Alternatively, try out the free six-hour course on ‘Race and Youth Policy: Working with Young People’, which looks at the meaning of social policy and examines the racialisation and criminalisation of youth social policy in relation to Black and Muslim Asian British youth.
The site is a true rabbit’s warren of information that could keep you busy for months with its rich resources.
Visit Race and Ethnicity Hub – OpenLearn – Open University and browse by topics and types of content.
