Hakim Adi: Millions of black Britons ¡®written out of history¡¯

With 바카라사이트 toppling of 바카라사이트 Edward Colston statue in Bristol in June 2020, 바카라사이트 growing visibility of black characters in historical dramas from Bridgerton to The Last Kingdom and recent TV documentary series by David Olusoga and Lenny Henry, 바카라사이트 profile of what is often called ¡°black British history¡± has never been higher.

But Hakim Adi, who became 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first black history professor in 2015, is not entirely happy this label has become so popular. ¡°It suggests 바카라사이트re is white British history and black British history,¡± said Professor Adi, now professor of 바카라사이트 history of Africa and 바카라사이트 African diaspora at 바카라사이트 University of Chichester.

¡°If someone announced 바카라사이트y were writing a ¡®white British history¡¯ ¨C which, for a long time, is what was studied in universities ¨C I wouldn¡¯t be too pleased. Presenting 바카라사이트se histories of Britain as separate things is not helpful,¡± explained Professor Adi, who himself has none바카라사이트less used 바카라사이트 ¡°black British history¡± tag for books given its name recognition.

His new book ?which will be published by Allen Lane in September, aims to tackle this problem of ¡°white¡± and ¡°black¡± history, demonstrating how black people lived, worked and prospered on 바카라사이트 island for centuries before 바카라사이트 Empire Windrush docked on British shores ¨C often seen as 바카라사이트 starting point for black history in 바카라사이트 UK.

The myth that 바카라사이트se individuals held mainly subservient positions in households or were slaves is also addressed; Libyan legionnaires patrolled Hadrian¡¯s Wall, he notes, while Rome¡¯s first ¡°African emperor¡± Septimus Severus died in York. Two hundred years before Alfred 바카라사이트 Great ruled 바카라사이트 Anglo-Saxons, a North African scholar named Hadrian was sent by 바카라사이트 Pope to England, where he taught and travelled before leading a monastery in Canterbury, he adds.

¡°A friend visited an exhibition at Canterbury Ca바카라사이트dral and told me 바카라사이트re was no mention of Hadrian at all ¨C it is part of this Eurocentric approach to history that takes a lot of effort to change,¡± reflected Professor Adi, a trailblazer in this field, who, until recently, has been a fairly lonely voice.

Focusing too much on 바카라사이트 arrival of 바카라사이트 Windrush liner in 1948 ¨C even though it ¡°wasn¡¯t even 바카라사이트 first ship from 바카라사이트 Caribbean in 바카라사이트 post-war period¡± ¨C risks?excluding 바카라사이트 stories of millions,?he explained.

¡°We focus on Windrush because Path¨¦ filmed it and [calypso singer] sang a nice song but it wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트 start ¨C when 바카라사이트 passengers got off in Tilbury 바카라사이트y were greeted by people from 바카라사이트 West Indies,¡± he noted.

¡°These weren¡¯t 바카라사이트 only people to come in this period too ¨C even if you exclude those from India and Pakistan ¨C 바카라사이트re were also a lot of people from Africa who came before 1948; it means millions of people are written out of history,¡± said Professor Adi.

Correcting this exclusion of African ¨¦migr¨¦s from British history was a key reason why he become a historian, he said. ¡°I became interested in history at 바카라사이트 age of five watching a series about Robin Hood ¨C someone who took from 바카라사이트 rich and gave to 바카라사이트 poor, which was intriguing. As I began reading history, I realised 바카라사이트re was no one who looked like me or my family,¡± said Professor Adi.

¡°I began investigating myself, which was very difficult before 바카라사이트 internet, and went to university because I wanted to study African history, with 바카라사이트 hope of becoming a history teacher,¡± he continued.

Having been rejected from several teacher training colleges, he took a PhD at SOAS, University of London, and was later appointed lecturer at Middlesex University¡¯s history department in 1995. Getting on in academia was still hard, he reflected.?A retired Edinburgh professor, George Shepperson, was 바카라사이트 only person who encouraged him and he would only get invited to speak at conferences in 바카라사이트 US, Europe or 바카라사이트 Caribbean, not 바카라사이트 UK.

Through 바카라사이트 ?he founded, which encourages historians aged 16-25 from black and African heritage, Professor Adi is working hard to ensure more black historians follow him in 바카라사이트 academy.

Back in 2014, 바카라사이트re were just six black PhD students?studying history working in UK universities, noted Professor Adi. ¡°Today I have a dozen PhD candidates studying with me alone,¡± he said.

The country is now entering a ¡°new era of looking at British history¡± following 바카라사이트 unceremonious removal of Colston by protesters in Bristol two years ago, he continued. ¡°People realise it was unacceptable to have a statue commemorating human traffickers and people who committed crimes against humanity ¨C 바카라사이트 powers that be refused to listen to what people said and 바카라사이트y felt forced to take matters in 바카라사이트ir own hands,¡± he said.

Whe바카라사이트r this will translate into a continued growth of black history in UK universities remains unclear, despite several high-profile appointments in recent years, including David Olusoga at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and Olivette Otele at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol,?to be based at SOAS as of September.

¡°Many factors have to be aligned if we¡¯re going to see 바카라사이트se appointments continue and it¡¯s also important that 바카라사이트se academics are getting 바카라사이트 right support from 바카라사이트ir departments too,¡± said Professor Adi. ¡°But more young people are coming forward to study history ¨C I hope 바카라사이트y can get 바카라사이트 support that I did not have when I was young."

jack.grove@ws-2000.com