black history

  • Criminality and Queer History

    Dr Liz Barnes discusses the difficulty of uncovering ordinary queer lives in the past. Please note that this post contains references to sexual violence and language that readers might find offensive. Criminality is ever-present for historians seeking to uncover queer… Continue reading

    Criminality and Queer History
  • #BHM ‘The different meaning of HMT Empire Windrush’ by Dr Daniel Renshaw

    On a rainy June morning in the summer of 1948 a British troopship, itself requisitioned from the German navy during the Second World War, arrived at Tilbury docks in Essex, carrying a number of Polish ex-soldiers, some Jamaican pilots who… Continue reading

    #BHM ‘The different meaning of HMT Empire Windrush’ by Dr Daniel Renshaw
  • Daughters of the Dust and the History of Gullah communities

    by Prof. Emily West On Tuesday 17th October the University kindly invited me to introduce Reading Film Theatre’s showing of the 1991 film, Daughters of the Dust, written and directed by Julie Dash.  Her father grew up in the area… Continue reading

    Daughters of the Dust and the History of Gullah communities
  • ‘Hidden Figures’ Film Review

    by Philippa Sale [1] There was some confusion at the Academy Awards this weekend when ‘La La Land’ was incorrectly announced as the winner of the Best Picture Oscar, the real winner being ‘Moonlight’.  Away from this embarrassing mix-up another… Continue reading

    ‘Hidden Figures’ Film Review