One of the things I really wanted us to do differently for Black History Month this year was to create opportunities for people to engage with Black history and culture beyond just attending events. That’s where Soulful Reads came from.
Books have a way of introducing us to lives we’ve never lived, experiences we might not understand, and sometimes even parts of ourselves we haven’t quite found the words for. For some students, these stories will feel familiar. They’ll see their cultures, families and experiences reflected in the pages. For others, it’ll be an opportunity to discover something new, challenge their perspectives and understand the world a little differently.
We’ve brought together books exploring identity, belonging, creativity, ambition, love and connection. There’s something in this collection for everyone, regardless of your background.
Each week throughout October, we’ll be sharing a new selection of books centred around a different theme. From identity & belonging to creativity, voice & ambition, and love & connection, we want to give students something new to discover each week.
My hope is that students don’t just walk past the display, but stop, pick a title that catches their attention and give it a read. You never know which story might stay with you.
And a massive thank you to David and the University Library team for helping us bring this to life and making these books accessible to students.
Read this week's soulful books online
Follow the links below to read this week's Soulful Reads online:
Prefer a book you can hold in your hands?
Printed copies of these books are available in the ground floor Soulful Reads book display between the Library Atrium and Café and by postal loan
Contributed by Victor Audu
Inclusion Officer, University of Portsmouth Students’ Union