Westminster welcomed Dr Shantella Sherman to speak at the University’s Black History Year event Screening Eugenics: How Theories of ‘Racial Fitness’ Shape Our Views on 11 October.
The event explored the idea that in previous years, eugenics, the science of better breeding, relied most heavily on public health and public education platforms as a means to disseminate information, whereas it now thrives strongly through popular television, film, music, advertising, and social media.
Dr Sherman, an award-winning historian and journalist, spoke about this shift of eugenic theories from the laboratory to the living room and explored their presence in some of the UK’s favourite shows, from Orphan Black and Top Boy, to Coronation Street and Happy Valley.
The event is part of Westminster’s Black History Year (BHY), which showcases Westminster’s commitment to Black History by reflecting on the richness of the University’s past and present. As a celebration of Black history, stories, lives, politics, creativity and achievement, it is a chance to learn from and share space with Black historians, musicians, executives, writers, artists, thinkers, academics and alumni.
Speaking about the event, Dr Deborah Husbands, Reader in Psychology, said: "As the first event for Black History Month, organised by the Black History Year steering group, it was great to see such a diverse audience representing several universities, students, the Students’ Union and the public. Dr Sherman made it clear that eugenics has not gone away but continues to exist in a more contemporary form. The award-winning author advised us to critically interrogate media on diverse platforms and challenge those representations of identity that are, in fact, sophisticated forms of racism."
Zahrah Surooprajally, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Event Manager and Programme Co-ordinator, added: “Dr Sherman pointed out the common ways in which eugenics is shown in popular culture and questioned the ways in which we are presented information. She has a wonderful way of conveying complex information in an accessible way. The audience was engaged throughout. It was everything a talk should be: educational and enlightening. A brilliant start to Black History Month from BHY.”
Find out more about Black History Year.
