Professor William Henry

Selected Conference Papers/public Speaking (2014 - present)

Delivered Keynote talk on Windrush 75, University of Manchester, 16 June 2023.

Delivered a paper entitled: In memory of Madiba: Nelson Mandela as a Reggaematical cultural icon, at the “Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela & Martin Luther King Jnr. Icons, Intellectuals, Values, Practices, and Histories” Conference, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, 6 - 9 June 2023.

Panellist at the ‘SLRC - In Conversation Series in memory of Stephen Lawrence’, University of Greenwich, 29 March 2023.

Delivered keynote talk ‘Some thoughts on Racial Bias, mental health and social justice’, NHS South West London and St George’s Mental Health, NHS Trust, Springfield University Hospital, 28 October 2022.

Delivered online keynote talk, ‘From Exclusion to Excellence: You Are What You Learn’, BOLD Network, USS Investment Management, 26 October 2022.

Delivered keynote talk for the RMT Union, ‘Overstanding Whiteness as Rightness: Decolonising the African Mind’, Ajamu Centre, London, 21 October 2022.

Delivered keynote talk on ‘Recognising and challenging the culture of ‘structural racism’ as white privilege in Britain’, Greenwich Race Equality Network, Greenwich Town Hall, London, 13 October 2022.

Panellist at the University of Reading, History Department’s ‘Our Subversive Voice: The History and Politics of the English Protest Song’, Storrow Room, Cecil Sharp House, London, 23 September 2022.

Hosted ‘A public conversation with Rosamund Kissi-Debrah’ on Environmental Justice, organised by UCL at the Serpentine Gallery, London 9 July 2022. 

Delivered keynote talk on ‘Witnesses to Whiteness: making the invisible, visible’, at the 6th BME Early Career Researcher Conference: How to stay in academia, Making the invisible, visible, UWL, London 7 July 2022. 

Delivered lecture /seminar on ‘Whiteness, ‘unconscious bias’ and institutionalised racism in a pan European context’ on behalf of House of Khepera, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 25 June 2022. 

Panellist for ‘Black History 365 WINDRUSH: And Still I Rise’, University of Greenwich,  22 June 2022. 

Keynote Panellist at the Chartered ABS Conference, Belfast, NI. 24 May 2022. 

Delivered keynote talk on ‘Thoughts on the Windrush Generations: A Reggaematical take on the Black contribution to the British experience’ at the ‘Riddim Moves: Reggae/Dancehall Expression Symposium’, at Goldsmiths College, London 11 May 2022.  

Chaired panel at the ‘Post-Windrush Generation: Black British Voices of Resistance Conference, Woolf Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 7 May 2022. 

Delivered Keynote talk on ‘The Windrush Generations’ at the ‘Post-Windrush Generation: Black British Voices of Resistance Conference, Woolf Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 6 May 2022. 

Delivered lecture/seminar on ‘BLM UK’ at the NYU, London, 5 May 2022. 

Delivered lecture/seminar on ‘BLM UK’ at the NYU, London, 25 April 2022. 

Designed and delivered training session on ‘Tackling ‘unconscious bias’ and ‘institutionalised racism’ within the MET Police Service and the wider society’, at UWL, 31 March 2022. 

Delivered keynote talk: ‘Tackling‘unconscious bias’ and institutionalised racism’ at the Gagosian gallery, London, 8 March 2022. 

Delivered lecture/seminar on ‘BLM UK’ at the NYU, London, 7 December 2021. 

Delivered Keynote talk; ‘From Exclusion to Excellence: You are what you learn! at UWL’s THRIVE Launch, London, 17 November 2021. 

Delivered Keynote talk ‘Decolonisation of the African Mind, the lion’s view of the hunt’, at Global Knowledge Conference, Online, City University, 12 November 2021. 

Panellist for the Morley College Exhibition: ‘When Brixton Went On Fire’, London, 21 October 2021. 

Delivered a session on behalf of Imole Theatre’s play: “OUR WAR”, Post Performance Q & A Host, Brockley Jack Theatre, London, 16 October 2021. 

Delivered Keynote talk on ‘Reggae, Rastafari, Resistance and Transcendence’ at the ‘Freedom in the City – Festival of Learning’, Online, UWE Bristol 2 October 2021. 

Delivered Keynote talk on ‘Research, Resistance and Transcendence in Community Transformation’ at the SOAS Graduate Summer School, ‘Creative, Decolonised Research Methods and Impact’, SOAS, London, 25 August 2021. 

Co-facilitated session for the Business Disability Forum (BDF) on ‘Unconscious Bias’, ‘White Privilege’ and ‘Structural Racism within the work environment’, 4 August 2021. 

Delivered talk on the Windrush Commemoration for ‘Decolonising The Archive Radio’ (DTA), 25 June 2021. 

Panellist on WOMANZVUE ‘Windrush Celebration’ online event, 23 June 2021. 

Delivered Webinar ‘Understanding Race, Ethnicity, Identity and culture’ for the UNITE Regional BAEM Conference, London, 27 May 2021. 

Keynote talk on ‘Systemic Racism’ on behalf of SUNFO International Children’s Forum on Equality, 16 May 2021. 

Panellist on behalf of Just For Kids Law, ‘Youth Justice Legal Centre Summit 2021’ Online Conference, 24 March 2021. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Structural Racism and White Privilege’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Courtauld Institute of Art, 19 March 2021. 

Co-hosted Jamaican High Commission; Reggae Month Narratives Event – The System Is Sound, online 27 February 2021. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Structural Racism and White Privilege’, on behalf of Capital Letters, 17 February 2021. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Structural Racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Paul Mellon Centre, 3 December 2020. 

Delivered ‘Unconscious Bias’ Webinar on behalf of The University of Roehampton, 24 November 2020. 

Keynote talk on ‘GOAL MODELS’ From exclusion to excellence: you are what you learn!’. Royal College of Art Students' Union. Zoom, 13 October 2020. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Race, Ethnicity and Identity’ for the UNITE Regional BAEM, Black History Month Conference, London, 25 October 2020. 

Webinar / Panellist ‘EPIC 2020: Design and White Supremacy’ International Conference. Zoom, 27 October 2020.  

Keynote talk for the BHM 2020 Empowerment to Greatness series: ‘From Exclusion to Excellence: You are what you learn’. Healthcare Academic’s Race Equality Diversity and Inclusivity Network, (HAREDIN), Middlesex University. Microsoft Teams, 28 October 2020 

Webinar / Panellist 'Liberating and Decolonising Historical Minds': Oxford University and Goldsmiths, University of London. 29 October 2020. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Structural Racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Modern, London, 30 September 2020. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Unconscious Bias in the workplace’ for STARTmunich, Munich, Germany, 18 November 2020. 

Webinar Panellist and Seminar Leader SSLP Anti - Racism Conference.  Southwark Schools' Learning Partnership 25 November 2020. 

Delivered Webinar on ‘Structural Racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Paul Mellon Centre, 2 December 2020.Delivered a seminar on ‘Thinking beyond the legacy of African chattel enslavement’ for ‘The Royal Shakespeare Company’ on their forthcoming play The Whip, Stratford Upon Avon, 10 December 2019. 

Delivered a talk on ‘Structural Racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Modern, London, 13 November 2019. 

Delivered talk Ah weh dem ah gwaan wid? Challenging black assassination in the media and on tell-lie-vision, ‘Subcultures and mediated representations’ Symposium, London College of Fashion – UAL, London, 31st October 2019

Panellist at ‘Windrush Memories’ Black History Month event, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, 30 October 2019.

Delivered talk on Delivery of Talk on ‘Race, Ethnicity and Identity’ for the UNITE Regional BAEM, Black History Month Conference, London, 25 October 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘Thoughts on the Windrush Generations: A Reggaematical take on the Black contribution to the British experience’, at the ‘Reggae Transformations: How Reggae Transformed British Culture’ Conference, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 19 October 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘Claudia Jones: Life and Legacy’, at Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Black History Month event, 16 October 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘GOAL MODELS’ From exclusion to excellence: you are what you learn!’, on behalf of National Black Crown Prosecution Association (NBCPA), Black History Month event, Petty France, London, 8 October 2019.

Delivered Keynote, ‘Thoughts on the history of scientific racism’, at the University of Westminster, Black History Month event, London, 2 October 2019.

Delivered Keynote, ‘Breaking down barriers in education for Black Caribbean learners: You are what you learn!’, at the Ealing Education ‘No Learner Left Behind’ Conference, Brentford, 19 September 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘Making Black History’, at the ‘B in BAME’ conference, Lloyds Banking Group, London, 17 September 2019.   

‘Reggae Walk of New Cross’ facilitated by Les Back and Lez Henry, at the ‘Thinking on the Move: The Possibilities and Problems of Walking Sociologically’ Conference, Goldsmiths, London, 6 September 2019.

Hosted Annual Slavery Remembrance, Sankofa Day, Trafalgar Square, London, 17 August 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘The Windrush Story: A Reggaematical Journey with Dr Lez’ at CultureIn Day on behalf of LinkedIn, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 19 July 2019.

Delivered talk ‘From exclusion to excellence: you are what you learn!’ at the ‘Valuing subcultural histories: the politics of curatorial practice’ symposium, London, 17 July 2019. Delivered talk at UWL ‘Mature Learners’ event on ‘Goal Models’, SMR Campus, 16 July 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘Structural racism and ‘unconscious bias’ in the working environment’, on behalf of LinkedIn, London, 1 July 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘Structural racism and the working environment’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, at the annual ‘Plus Tate Equity Symposium’, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool, 26 June 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘The Windrush Generations and beyond’, on behalf of National Black Crown Prosecution Association (NBCPA), Petty France, London, 20 June 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘The Windrush Generations’, at Haringey Libraries ‘Windrush celebration: Going Down Memory Lane’ event’, Hornsey Library, London, 15 June 2019.

Delivered a talk on ‘Structural racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Britain, London, 12 June 2019.

Delivered a talk on ‘Combating whiteness in the black imagination’ on behalf of Black History Studies, St Anne’s Library, Haringey, London, 11 May 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘Scientific Racism and eugenics’, for Pan African Thought Network, Impact Hub, Birmingham, 7 May 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘Scientific Racism and eugenics’, for Pan African Thought Network, UCL, London, 4 April 2019.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘Scientific Racism in Popular Culture’ for the Genetic Automata Public Programme. Arts Catalyst Centre, London, 6 March 2019.

Delivered a talk on ‘Structural racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Britain, 6 March 2019.

Delivered talk on ‘The Windrush Generations’, Labour Party, London 27 February 2019.

Delivered a talk on ‘Structural racism’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Britain, London, 29 November 2018.

Panelist on ‘Why is my curriculum white’ debate, University of Cambridge BAME Student Society, Cambridge, 19 October 2018.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘The Windrush Generations’, Greenwich Racial Equality Network, Black History Month Celebrations, Greenwich, London 18 October 2018, pm.

Delivered ‘Bitesize’ talk on ‘The Windrush Generations’, Sainsbury’s, London 18 October 2018, am.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘British Deejay Culture’, for London Borough of Newham Black History Month Celebrations, Forest Gate Library, London, 9 October 2018.

Delivered talk on ‘Unconscious Bias’ for University of Roehampton, Roehampton, 11 September 2018.

Delivered talk on ‘British Deejay Culture’ at Subcultures Network Annual Conference, ‘Writing The Noise’, University of reading, Reading, 7/8 September 2018.

Delivered talk on ‘Music and identity’ at the National Association for Music in Higher Education (NAMHE) Conference, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, May 8/9 2018.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘Unconscious Bias’ in place of Prof. Les Back, for UWL Professorial Lecture series, March 8 2018.

Delivered a Keynote lecture on ‘Science Fiction Vs Black Fact’ on behalf of Black History Studies & University College London, BME Society, at UCL, Euston, London, 2 February 2018.

Delivered Keynote lecture on ‘whiteness and eugenics’ on behalf of Black History Studies & University College London BME Society, at UCL, Euston, London, 19 January 2018.

Chaired Panel Sound System Outernational 2 Symposium, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 14 January 2018.

Delivered a seminar entitled ‘Thinking beyond the academy walls: the self as an active agent of change!’, on behalf of the African Caribbean Society, University of Roehampton, 7 December 2017.

Delivered a seminar entitled ‘Unconscious bias or strategic avoidance’, on behalf of ‘Pre Image Learning and Action’, Tate Modern, 6 December 2017.

Delivered a talk on ‘Victimisation and persecution’, at the 2nd Annual Brockley Festival of Ideas, 19 November 2017.

Delivered a session at Reggae Futures live music session, Horse Hospital, London, 3 November 2017.

Hosted ‘National memorial for the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade/African Holocaust’, Trafalgar Square, 19 August 2017.

Chairing one panel discussion and delivering a paper at 'The politics of music, belonging and identity' at the 'Memory, Migration, Decolonisation, Conference in the Caribbean and Beyond, 1804 to the Present', Senate House, London,  23/24 May 2017.

Delivering a paper entitled;  'While nuff ah right and ribbit; we write and arrange': Deejay lyricism and the transcendental use of the voice in alternative public spaces in the UK" at the Liverpool Symposium, Reggae Research Network, Liverpool, 20 May 2017.

Delivered Keynote Lecture on 'Gun and Knife Crime: Protecting our Youths', for Interrupted Journey, Patidor House, Wembley, Middx, 6 May 2017

Delivered a talk at the  'Making Jamaica: Photography from the 1890's' Exhibition', Rivington Place, London, 6 April 2017.

Panellist discussing the Battle of Lewisham, The Art of Protest Conference, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 25 March 2017.

Delivered UWL / SLC Webinar: Criminology and Sociology, 24 March 2017.

Delivered a talk at the' UKC Afro-Caribbean Society, Aspire Student Symposium on 'Goal Models: from exclusion to excellence in education', University of Kent, 18 March 2017.

Delivered a paper on Black mental Health – Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome,  Conway Hall, London, 9 March 2017.

BME Staff Network invited Panellist for the screening and discussion of the 'Dark Girls Documentary'. Regent Cinema, University of Westminster, 24 February 2017.

Delivered a paper entitled: 'While nuff ah right and ribbit; we write and arrange': Deejay lyricism and the transcendental use of the voice in alternative public spaces in the UK at 5th Biennial Global Reggae Conference, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.

Delivered a paper entitled: 'Speaking yourself into being: the deejay word made flesh!'  Goldsmiths Anthropology - Lecture series for the spring on the politics of embodiment. Goldsmiths College, 11 January 2017.

Delivered a paper entitled: ‘Thoughts on the Windrush Generations: the black contribution to the British experience!’ at New York University, Bloomsbury, London, 24 October 2016.

Delivered a paper entitled: 'Black achievement in education' at the VU University in Amsterdam, Holland, 18 October 2016.

Delivered a paper at the ‘Challenging the Silence in Higher Education: Race & Racism in the Academy’, Conference, Goldsmiths College, 13 October 2016.

Delivered a paper at ‘Whiteness, mental health and diagnosis’ Symposium, St Catherine’s College, Oxford, 5 October 2016.

Delivered a paper entitled: ‘Some thoughts on history and culture in the UK!’ at New York University, Bloomsbury, London, 2 September 2016.

Delivered a paper entitled: While nuff ah right and ribbit; we write and arrange! (Trevor Natch)’, ‘Sound System Outernational 2 Symposium’ Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2 July 2016.

L.E.S.S.O.N. A pedagogy of observation and learning, ‘Teaching and Learning Conference 2016’, UWL 28 June 2016.

Rastafari, righteousness and rebellion in the pursuit of nattyness, ‘Racialising Violence: State and Non-State Actors Conference’, British Sociological Association (BSA), 19 May 2016.

Politics of Urban Multiculture for the ‘New Urban Multicultures: Conviviality and Racism Conference’, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 17 May 2016.

Roundtable contributor on Black Music and the 1981 Brixton Riots, British Music Experience Conference, O2 Arena, London, 7t June 2012.

Social and racial inequality in the UK, Keynote speech at the IX Intercultural, Leganes City Council, Leganes, Madrid, Spain, 24 June 2014.

Witness to Whiteness, Keynote speech at ‘Surrey & Sussex, MD’s Annual Conference’, NHS, Crawley, 17 May 2014.

Productions/exhibitions

2007: £850, Lewisham Council grant: Co-produced Imole Theatre Play about knife crime, ‘When Angels Collide’.

2006–7: £50,000, Heritage Lottery Fund. Nu-Beyond Summer School Research Project, Tru Reggae Story, exhibited at The Black Cultural Archives, Kennington, London.

PhD Internal Examiner

Candidate: Brittany Lyn Blackwell (November 2022) University of West London. Title of thesis Forget Me Not: Demarginalising Trailblazing and Leading Black Women’s WEIRD Industrial, Organisational, and Societal Career Experiences with “Power” in the World’s Top Music Industry Ecosystems.

Candidate: Windy Grendele (March 2022) University of West London. Title of thesis: A Qualitative Exploration of the Social Dynamics of Religious Shunning in the Jehovah’s Witness Community.

PhD External Examiner

Candidate: Beverley Cooper-Chambers (November 2022), De Montfort University. Title of thesis: British Television Drama and the British Caribbean Family.

Candidate: Dawn Alison De Coteau (October 2021), University of Liverpool. Title of thesis: Corruption in Caribbean Politics – Examining Cultural Tolerance.

Candidate: Patten, H. (July 2019), Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University. Title of thesis: The Spirituality of Reggae Dancehall Dance Vocabulary.

Candidate: Simran Singh (October 2017), Department of Music, Royal Holloway, University of London. Thesis Title: “Disco Dreads” - Selfhood through Consumption in Uganda’s hip Hop Scene: Image-making, Branding and Belonging in Fragile Sites.

Candidate for Upgrade from MPhil to PhD: Mr Edward Dixon (January 2017) Thesis Title: Music Industry Philanthropic Foundations and Development in Jamaica: A study of their emergence, role and resources. Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Goldsmiths, University of London.

Candidate: Ms Sireita R. L. Mullings (March 2012), Department of Sociology, Goldsmiths College. Title of the thesis: Post colonial legacies of marginalisation, as rendered in the visual works of young people in Lambeth.

Candidate: Mr Martin L. Patrick (September 2006), Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham. Title of Thesis: The myth of the black male beast in postclassical American cinema: Forging stereotypes and discovering black masculinities.

Candidate: Mr Henley Bernard (June 2006), Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham. Title of Thesis: Themes In Caribbean Theology And Their Application To Issues Of Pastoral Care.

Doctoral Research Degree Supervision

Phillip Beckles-Raymond (Professional Doctorate) “Policy-Based Pedagogical Fraud”: The Extent to which Capacity Building Processes Presented as Objective are Designed to Contribute to Disadvantaging Aid-Recipient Countries.

Mark Duncan (Professional Doctorate) Understanding comorbidity through the Policing of Black and Minority Ethnic communities suffering from co-existing mental health and substance misuse problems in the U.K.

Sabrina Edwards (Professional Doctorate) Exploring the impact of embedding an antiracist and gender equal curriculum on children’s personal development, behaviour and attitudes.

Natasha Hendry (PhD) Gang Signs & Prayer – a study of Grime music as a means of psychological and socioeconomic agency for black youths in London.

Kate Lawton (PhD) A qualitative study in “Bad-mind” and “obeah” in Jamaican dancehall culture.

Helena Pombares (Professional Doctorate) Re-imagining Female Prisons as Socially Responsive and Purposely Designed Rehabilitation Centres.

Jacyntha Stewart (Professional Doctorate) Institutional Theory and the barriers and challenges for black CEO's in the 3rd Sector.