Thursday 14-10-2021 - 14:04

For our second BHM Spotlight, VP SHLS Tabitha Nyariki speaks to GCU Alumni Ese Johnson about Black History Month.

Who are you? (Tell us about yourself.) 

My name is Ese, I am a 24 year old Nigerian. I moved to the UK in 2020 for my master’s degree in GCU. I work in sexual health promotion with Terrence Higgins Trust in Oxfordshire and am involved in volunteering and campaigns around HIV interventions in the UK. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and spotting ruins, I am an enthusiast creative and love a good DIY project, I love reading and have a lot of interest in social change. 

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

For me, BHM is a time for me to reflect on my journey as a Nigerian man coming from Africa to Europe. It is also a time for me to remember what makes me who I am and how that is enough. It has also recently been a time for me to reflect on black history in a foreign land and understand how people of Black-African origin have shaped the journey of people like me in foreign countries like the UK. 

What Impact do you think Black History Month has? 

Like every major yearly celebration, it gives people time to reflect on diversity and understand more about the community they are part of or a community that may be foreign to them but of interest to them. The impact of BHM is helping the world understand that regardless of race and origin, color of skin and other physical features, we are all one human race and biological features do not define us…we are all HUMAN! 

What vision do you have for the black community? 

I hope the black community would never forget their journey and history through space and time. I also hope the black community would own their ‘blackness’ and never tone down their presence for anyone or anything! We need to own our space and never fade into the background and my hope is that we believe and actualise that.  

What more can be done to embrace equality and diversity (could be personally, in Higher Education or in society in general)? 

I believe increased representation of diversity in daily experiences, things we see, positions of power, academic curricula etc. would help everyone understand, accept and love diversity. I also believe that if everyone own their own space as individuals and never let anyone overshadow them, then we would achieve the equality in diversity we are hoping for.  

How are you planning to celebrate Black History Month? 

This BHM, I have been sharing my personal stories of being a black, gay, HIV positive man and use my story and experiences to ask for more funding for HIV prevention especially for communities that may be underrepresented like the black community. These have been featured on national TV like ITV and Channel 5.