In a month which celebrates the contributions of black people to British society, Huddersfield’s own internationally-acclaimed rapper, performance poet and playwright Testament has created two short films which are being promoted by the Church of England as part of their resources for Black History Month.
These monologues encourage individuals and congregations to explore identity and sense of belonging.
Originally commissioned by the Leeds Church Institute for their Faith and Racial Justice project, the monologues were first performed live at an ecumenical Churches Against Racism event in April 2024.
The films look at what it really means to be “one in Christ” when there is not always equality of opportunity.
Structures and systems in church and society sometimes get in the way of opportunity, access and choice.
Where this happens on account of skin or ethnic background, it is called racism.
The films stimulate listening and discussion and are an excellent resource for church and youth groups.
Black History Month also marks the opening of a new building at the University of Huddersfield, named after a pioneering nurse and midwife.
Daphne Steele was "a woman of courage with a heart of gold" who became the first black matron in Britain.
Daphne trained at St James’ Hospital, Balham, South London, after emigrating to the UK from Guyana in 1951.
She worked in the US but returned to the UK and served as a nurse at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire before moving to Manchester as deputy matron at a nursing home.
When that home closed, she was encouraged to apply for the position of matron at St Winifred’s Hospital in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Her appointment made news around the world.
The newly opened building named in her honour in Huddersfield University’s Health Innovations Campus will work with partners across the region to address some of the health and well-being issues facing Yorkshire and the Humber including high levels of obesity, the third lowest life expectancy for men and women, and the second highest rate of deaths in infancy.
Commenting on Black History Month, the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield and diocesan lead for racial justice, said: "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation.
"Beacons of hope like Testament and Daphne witness to a larger Christ and a reconciled world."
Find further resources for Black History Month here.