by Emma Jokinen
Racial inequality has been one of the biggest conversations of this year, but the focus has mostly been on the US. This Black History Month, grab one of our recommendations and educate yourself on the history and experience of black people in the UK.
- Black and British: A Forgotten History, by David Olusoga
A comprehensive history of black history in Britain, reaching back to Roman times. - Black Tudors: The Untold Story, by Miranda Kaufmann
Exploring the presence and lives of British black people in the Tudor era. - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, by Akala
Part memoir, part analysis of class and race in various historical eras, including contemporary Britain.
Time and again events and phenomena that we think we know and understand contain within them lost or camouflaged connections to Africa, slavery and black history.
David Olusoga, Black and British: A Forgotten History
- Brit(ish): On Race, Identity, and Belonging, by Afua Hirsch
Exploring the history of racism and imperialism in the UK, as well as the experience of being black British today. - There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack: The Cultural Politics of Race and Nation, by Paul Gilroy
A classic from the 80s on racial politics and racism in the UK, which remains relevant today. - 100 Great Black Britons, by Patrick Vernon and Angelina Osborne
Portraits of 100 black British historical figures that you might never have heard of.
Life’s a learning curve and there’s always room for improvement. This list may be short, but it’s a great place to start!