Thursday 28-10-2021 - 16:47

For our final BHM Spotlight VP SHLS Tabitha Nyariki speaks to her sister and GCU Alumni, Grace Nyariki, about Black History Month.

Who are you? (Tell us about yourself.) 

I am Grace Nyariki an Alumni of GCU from Kenya and graduated with an MSc. Human Resource Management degree in 2020 and currently work as Accounts Manager in a company in Glasgow. I am passionate about equality and diversity and whilst I was a student at GCU, I was the BAME student officer and worked towards making the group more inclusive and creating employability opportunities for ethnic minorities. I worked with Student Voice to rename the group to the Ethnic Diversity Network which the group is currently named and has led through its current officers on initiatives to tackle racism on campus.  

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

Black history month is a celebration of our forefathers and what they fought for to ensure we have a future, one driven by excellence and black pride. BHM also reminds me to always strive for the greatness, greatness that lies beyond the current circumstances the black community still faces and remember the sense of community that has always been our pride.  Working to continue to create a better future for the generations to come and a reminder that there is no history without Black History.  

What Impact do you think Black History Month has? 

LBHM has the impact to create awareness and educate people, though a month is not nearly enough to celebrate Black History, it gives an opportunity for us to celebrate Black excellence, remember our history and also create avenues where black stories can be shared and acknowledged particularly in spaces where they usually don’t get an audience. 

What vision do you have for the black community? 

My Vision for the black community is for us to be comfortable with our skin, get to the point where we are unapologetically black and do not have to conform to spaces rather create spaces that allow us to grow and celebrate our culture, which however diverse is the back bone of who we are.  

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

In many ways the society is changing, slowly becoming more educated on racial issues and working towards an equitable world however, we need to encourage people within our spaces be it family, work or social spaces to having difficult conversations, challenge stereotypes, educate themselves and not get tired of fighting for equality and diversity.  

How are you planning to celebrate Black History Month? 

This year I celebrated BHM in a variety of ways, mostly with my friends and family reflecting on our identity and what it means to be black immigrant in the UK. I also attend some events organised in Glasgow and got to meet and speak to some amazing people of colour and share experiences.