Celebrating Black History at DLD College London

At DLD College, we pride ourselves on being a diverse and inclusive community, with over 60 nationalities represented in our student body. For that reason, we celebrate our different communities all year around. Across our different curriculum areas, teachers have been working to embed Black voices and Black perspectives into their teaching. For example, in English Literature, chosen readings are selected from noted authors including Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison. The Art department has a curated display of artworks featuring Black artists in our Exhibition Gallery and have run their own Turner Prize competition for Black artists. Media and Film students have explored the importance of ‘Black Panther’ not just the film, but also the impact it had on many who had never seen themselves portrayed in such roles.

That being said, we do join in the celebration of “Saluting Our Sisters” as part of Black History Month 2023. We have had Harris Elliott, Senior Lecturer at the RCA and Central St Martins, who has worked as a creative consultant for the likes of Nike, Puma and Adidas and is the stylist for the indie band Blur, speak to the school. In assembly, students learnt about the work of Ruth Ibegbuna, teacher, social entrepreneur, and author. As the former head of the charity, Reclaim, she worked with students from disadvantaged backgrounds and remains committed to positive change. In her book On Youth, Ibegbuna declares that no one is too young to lead, a view that we hold dearly at DLD.

Fumi St Marthe, EDI Lead