Hakim Adi, 'Many Struggles' Book Launch

When: Monday, October 16, 2023, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Peston Lecture Theatre, Graduate Centre, Queen Mary University of London 327 Mile End Road London E1 4NS, Mile End

'A wonderful showcase of the most exciting work happening in Black British History and a rousing call to action' Christienna Fryar, historian of Britain and the Caribbean.

 

The history of African and Caribbean people in Britain is centuries long. Although integral to, and indivisible from ‘British history’, it is usually treated as a footnote – or forgotten altogether. But with the flourishing of the Black Lives Matter uprisings, and fierce debates around the legacies of colonialism, has come a renewed hunger for the recovery of this history.

 

 

Edited by leading historian Hakim Adi, Many Struggles includes contributions from an array of emerging historians and scholar-activists. Covering the sixteenth to the late twentieth century, the book reveals the long history of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Drawing on new archival research, Many Struggles emphasises often-neglected themes within ‘Black British History', such as local histories, women, gender, sexuality and political activism.

 

In light of the termination of Professor Hakim Adi’s position and the MRes in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at the University of Chichester, the QMUL School of History invites students, academics and members of the public to celebrate the launch of this exciting new collection. Join us to hear from Hakim Adi and four other contributors to the book, followed by a conversation about the trajectory of Black British history at a time where the humanities are under attack. This will also be a space to meet other enthusiasts of Black British history and discuss possible collaborations for the future.

 

Drinks and nibbles provided.

 

Speaker bios:

 

Hakim Adi was the first person of African heritage to be appointed a professor of history in Britain. He is the author of numerous books including African and Caribbean People in Britain: A History, West Africans in Britain 1900-1960 and Pan-Africanism: A History. He has made numerous documentary film, television and radio appearances, and is included in the book 100 Great Black Britons.

 

Olivia Wyatt is a PhD student at Queen Mary University of London whose research concentrates on the politics of complexion within Black British communities during the twentieth century. She recently co-organised 'The Issue of Truth: Representing Black British history' conference at the Institute of Historical Research, additionally supported by QMUL and Northwestern University (Chicago). She has written for History Matters Journal, BBC Radio 4 and History Today, she also writes for Harewood House about the estate’s imperial relationship with the Caribbean.

 

Rebecca Adams is currently working at London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) as an Archivist of the Africa Centre Collection. She was previously the archivist for the Mollie Hunte Collection also available at LMA. Her research interests include decolonising archives, community archives and archival representation. She is part of the International Council on Archives, New Professionals Programme for 2023.

 

Perry Blankson is a columnist at Tribune magazine and has historical interest in the ‘British Black Power’ movements of the post-war period and beyond, with a paritulclar historical focus in the response of the state to such organising. He is a project coordinator at the Young Historians Project, a collective encouraging the development of young historians of African and Caribbean heritage in Britain. He is a member of the editorial working group the History Matters Journal.

 

Rey Bowen is a PhD student at the University of Chichester researching for a thesis entitled ‘Dusé Mohamed Ali’s Pan-Africanism 1912-1945: His influence Across the African Diaspora’. He has over 25 years of experience working in further, higher and private education and is currently a member of the editorial working group of the History Matters Journal.

 

Hannah Francis is currently a Research Analyst at the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading race equality thinktank, working across two major work-strands: research and policy. After completing an MRes in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at the University of Chichester in 2021, they joined the Young Historians Project as a volunteer research and is currently a member of the editorial working group for the History Matters Journal.