Black and British

In "Black and British," historian and broadcaster David Olusoga offers a profound exploration of the intertwined past of the British Isles with Africa and the Caribbean. This extensively updated edition introduces a chapter on the Windrush scandal and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, pivotal moments that brought black British history to the forefront of national discourse. The book serves as a vivid testament that black history is an integral, rather than separate, part of Britain's cultural and economic narrative. Olusoga’s work delves into fresh genealogical findings, original documents, and specialist insights, tracing back to Roman Britain, the medieval perceptions, Elizabethan "blackamoors," and the expansive slave-trading empire. It highlights how American slavery underpinned the industrial surge of the nineteenth century and how black Britons stood alongside their compatriots at Trafalgar and in the trenches of both World Wars. This narrative showcases that black British history is not isolated; it is a collective heritage shared by all. Olusoga’s unwavering approach addresses taboos and uncovers untold stories, portraying centuries of interconnected lives of black and white Britons.