Testimonials

Hear from students, staff and partners who have been involved in the Black at Sussex programme.

Valerie Kporye, Literature and Philosophy alumna (pictured above), spoke at the Black at Sussex launch event about what it meant to her as a Black student:

"Both the purpose and title of the Black at Sussex programme are incredibly powerful. As they unveil a history of featured and esteemed Black alumni, they also reintroduce a community of Black students at Sussex which I feel was previously missing. Showcasing the wonderful and varied legacies of these individuals enhances that sense of belonging, providing inspiring examples of what can be achieved by Black Sussex graduates."

Myisha Box, who is studying History, spoke about the event and how Black at Sussex inspired her Junior Research Assistant project ‘Mapping Sussex University Library’s Black History Archives’:

"I have always had a love of history and learning. One of the inspirations came from my involvement with Black at Sussex…. I had never heard of Len Garrison or the Black cultural archives before, and the talk made me curious about the idea of Black history, what gets told, and how that links with archives."

Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor, also reflected on the programme:

"Through Black at Sussex, we seek to celebrate the many achievements of Black Sussex alumni and to explore the impact they have had on the world. Staying true to the founding spirit of Sussex, the programme also seeks to challenge convention and complacency, asking difficult questions about how it feels today, and has felt historically, to be a Black student at Sussex, as part of the work we need to do to create a radically diverse, inclusive, anti-racist university.”

Otis Blaize, teacher at Harris Academy Purley, said following a workshop hosted by the Black at Sussex programme:

“Huge thank you to Anne-Marie and Myisha for speaking to our year 12s today about the British Black Panther Party, analysing the work of Neil Kenlock, and considering the connectedness of global Black Power movements.”

You might also be interested in:

• our anti-racist pledge
• widening participation
• Inclusive Sussex