Issue 27 | Retrospect Journal | Prejudice and Pandemics
HCA Societies History Society Semester one for History Society has been unlike any I have experienced before and I have been incredibly proud of the committee for how they have managed to overcome and, in many ways, make the best out of an unprecedented situation. History Society has a well-established social calendar, including, of course, the Winter Ball. This year however due to Covid-19 we have hosted all of our events - academic and social online as well as all of our committee meetings. I am, yet to meet some of the committee in person, but feel as if I know them all so well already.
to the present: inclusive readings of history to decolonise the academy’ and lastly from Charlotte James Robertson who spoke on ‘“Lives Free of Fear of Any Kind”: The Establishment of Specialist BME Women’s Refuges in Britain, (1979-1989)’. Then on the 18 November launched our workshop series “Scotland, Slavery, and Black History: Wikipedia Editing Workshops” alongside Professor Diana Paton, historian of the Caribbean, Ewen McAndrew, the University’s resident Wikimedian, and BlackEd. This was a launch of our collaborative project taking place in the new year which is designed Academically, this semester has been an to train a dedicated focus group on Wikipedia undeniable success, our Academic Secretaries editing whose attention will then be directed at Scarlett and Connall having engaged in some important figures in Scotland’s Black History particularly topical subjects. To mark the US whose pages need updating. We had some election, they held two events with great turn great discussions about the role of Wikipedia outs. First, we were joined by Edinburgh’s in public history, the importance of this type of own Dr Robert Mason (Professor of Twentieth- work in the wake of BLM protests and how to Century US History) who spoke to us about how stimulate important conversations around race in the modern Republican party has sought the other disciplines, particularly in STEM. We are highest office in US politics, the Presidency. We looking forward to starting our related series of then hosted the “Whiskey Rebellion Podcast”, workshops in semester two. which is led by Edinburgh University’s Professor Frank Cogliano and Dr David Silkenat where we Since this year has presented many challenges, engaged in a lively Q&A surrounding the latest for new students particularly, many of History developments in the US. Society’s social events have focused on mental health, creating connections amongst students, We have also marked Black History Month and getting to know Edinburgh virtually. Our this Semester. On 26 October we hosted our Student Experience Officers, Lauren and Shreya, “Black History Month: Hidden Histories” event, collaborated with the brilliant local charity Health organised by our Postgraduate Representative, in Mind on a virtual stress awareness workshop Daniel, alongside the Academic Secretaries. which focused on an open discussion about We heard three papers, first from Lisa Williams, signs and management of stress for university founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association students. Our First Year Representatives, Helena who spoke about ‘The Caribbean presence in and Olivia, have worked hard on their ‘Speed Edinburgh in the eighteenth and nineteenth Friending’ project which has connected up to centuries’, then from Anna Adima who’s paper forty first year students to another individual. was entitled ‘Female African students in This has, we hope, enabled some first years to European universities from the early 20th century experience face-to-face interaction whilst sticking
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