Author Hillery Baptiste among distinguished speakers addressing colonial legacies and contemporary inequalities

London’s Birkbeck University will host a groundbreaking conference on 24 June 2025 that promises to amplify Black women’s voices in the vital conversation around reparative justice. Reparative Justice, Diaspora and Responsibility—Black Women’s Narratives in Higher Education bring together scholars, activists, and artists to explore how Black women continue to bear responsibility for addressing colonial injustices while their contributions remain largely unheard.

A Literary Voice for Justice

Among the notable speakers is Hillery Baptiste, author of the compelling historical fiction A Name in History. Baptiste’s novel follows Ella’s journey from London to the Caribbean as she uncovers family secrets connected to slavery through a simple shell fragment—a narrative that perfectly embodies the conference’s themes of diaspora, identity, and historical reckoning.

Baptiste will present alongside other distinguished voices, including Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP as keynote speaker, exploring how creative storytelling serves as both witness and weapon in the fight for justice.

Beyond Academia: Art, Activism, and Healing

This isn’t just another academic gathering. The conference deliberately centers creative practice as a tool for reparative justice, featuring artist Carmelita Kadeena’s work “Against the Wind” and exploring how Black womanist art creates spaces for healing and survival.

Organised by Dr Jan Etienne and the Womanism, Activism, Higher Education Research Network (WAHERN), the event tackles four crucial areas:

• Diaspora connections: How Black women support communities both in destination countries and homelands
• Structural inequalities: Addressing ongoing institutional violence and discrimination
• Creative resistance: Using art and storytelling for wellbeing and hope
• Collaborative approaches: Building solidarity across communities affected by colonial oppression

A Call to Action

“This conference seeks to challenge the often negative thinking around reparation and responsibility,” explains the organising team. Rather than dwelling in academic theory, it positions Black women activist-educators at the center of practical change.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant. As conversations about reparations gain momentum globally, this conference offers crucial perspectives from those who have been doing the work—often without recognition—for generations.

Join the Conversation

The conference will run from 10:00 to 16:30 at Birkbeck’s Main Building on Malet Street. It is aimed at higher education researchers, scholars of race and gender, and anyone committed to social justice and education.

Registration closes 17 June 2025. This is more than an academic conference—it’s a gathering of voices that have been marginalised for too long, finally taking centre stage in shaping the future of reparative justice.

For more information and registration: j.etienne@bbk.ac.uk

The conference is funded by The Birkbeck African Diaspora Research Initiative (BADRI) and The Birkbeck Institute for Gender and Sexuality (BiGS), with support from The Birkbeck Institute for Social Research (BISR).