News 26 October 2016
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Kent Student Union screwed up Black History Month in a big way

26 October 2016
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It’s Black History Month, and, like many universities, Kent University Student Union decided to celebrate the month by holding events as well as profiling notable figures on their website. Great right?

So they had Trevor MacDonald, born in Trinidad and our favourite news anchor. 

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They also had Arthur Wharnton, who’s notably known as the ‘worlds first professional black footballer’. A 16 ft statue of him currently stands at the FA’s St George’s Park, Burton on Trent. 

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And then… They had Zayn Malik.

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Yes; Kent Student Union picked Zayn Malik as one of its faces of Black History Month. 

Since the news spread on Twitter, the outrage was evident with many airing their discontent. One Twitter user said, ‘Zayn is neither black nor noteworthy enough to be included alongside names on the list such as Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Trevor McDonald.’

On Kent SU’s Black History Month landing page, it states ‘In May and June 2016, Kent Union held the first of its Black History Month planning meetings, putting out an open call to all students and students group to attend. The first meeting was attended by a range of different societies, volunteering groups and students, who put forward their ideas for the focus and events for the month long celebration.’ 


Rory Murray, Kent Student Union President issued a public apology (below), and the profiles of Zayn Malik and Sadiq Khan have now been pulled from the site

 

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