The Bristorian delves into the untold stories of Black historical figures, cultures and events
Black history is not simply a month-long endeavour
Trumpeters, Divers, and Silk-Weavers: Black Presence in Tudor England
Inspired by Miranda Kaufmann’s novel Black Tudors: The Untold Story, Bea Vivian explores the lives of three African men in Tudor England: a trumpeter, a salvage diver, and a silk-weaver. Their stories demonstrate that historical accuracy and diversity in the media are not mutually exclusive.
The Forgotten Army: Remembering the West African Contribution to the Allied War Effort in Burma
Kedric Morgan explores the overlooked role of the West African troops in the Burma Campaign, highlighting their military achievements, the racial prejudices they endured and the lasting challenges of securing recognition for their contributions to the Allied war effort.
Who Had the Right to Be a Mother? The Limits of Maternal Power under Slavery
Sukhi Singh explores the challenges posed to maternal authority under slavery, the use of motherhood as labour, and the repurposing of motherhood as a source of resistance.
Bassline of Belonging: Windrush, Caribbean Identity, and Bristol’s Musical Evolution
Anna Luchmun explores the arrival of Caribbean music and sound brought to Bristol by the Windrush generation, and how it has influenced and shaped the diverse and dynamic music scene we experience in the city today.
Liberty or Death: A Freedom Denied
Lucy Ward re-examines the sentiments from Patrick Henry’s infamous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, from the perspective of enslaved people who enacted this rhetoric in their own pursuit of freedom. It traces forms of resistance from fugitivity to the work of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, exposing the profound contradictions at the heart of American claims to liberty.
Unsung Composers: Black Legacies in Classical Music
In this article, Jennifer Skipp explores the enduring yet overlooked legacy of Black composers, reflecting on the importance of their contributions to classical music from the Baroque era to the present day.
The Black Unicorn: Audre Lorde, Intersectionality and the Importance of Community
Eleanor Flower explores the life and impact of poet and academic Audre Lorde, the Black, Lesbian feminist whose fight against oppression continues over three decades after her death, in the resonant form of the Black Unicorn.
Dressed for Resistance: The Black Panther Uniform
In this article, Alice Peters explores the history of the Black Panthers iconic uniform, reflecting on the impact it has on Black activism today.
Social Class and Justice in Bessie Smith’s ‘Washwoman’s Blues’: How Jazz followed the Lower Class during the Harlem Renaissance.
Amanda Schlicht explores the conception of the Harlem Renaissance and how the sound and lyricism of jazz music acted as a form of powerful emancipation for Black voices.
Review: Bristol History Society’s Black History Panel - Reclaiming Narratives
Read Shujiao Guo’s review of the University of Bristol’s Black History Panel, discussing the theme of this year’s Black History Month: Reclaiming Narratives.
The Legacy of the Colston Statue in 2024
Molly Blay and Michaela Mamby explore the legacy of Edward Colston’s statue in 2024 and the exhibition which is now on display at Bristol’s M Shed Museum.
Angela Davis: A life and ideas
A summary of Angela Davis’ life and ideas, detailing her experiences of racism and sexism all over the world. A Marxist political activist and scholar born in Alabama, her early life shaped her commitment to social justice. She became a significant figure during her 1970 trial for alleged involvement in a plot to free the Soledad Brothers, which drew international attention.
Hannah More: The story of a Bristolian Abolitionist, advocate for the poor, and champion of female education
Does this late-eighteenth century Bristolian Abolitionist challenge our conceptions of feminism in the past? Jemima Sutton reflects on the life and work of Hannah More.
Works of Frantz Fanon
The Bristorian explores the work of Frantz Fanon: psychiatrist, diplomat, and scholar whose work has had a major influence on the study of colonialism and de-colonisation.
Interview with Dr. Richard Stone: Finding Thomas Colston, the less known brother of Edward
How his presence changes everything we know about Bristol’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade…
St Pauls’- The evolution of one of Bristol’s most vibrant celebrations
Emily Brewster explores the origins of an iconic Bristol event and the important cultural impact of St Paul’s to Bristol as a city
Britain’s Black Miners: Unearthing an overlooked history
Coded as a Northern, white profession, the sacrifices of non-white miners are often forgotten in the history of labour activism and strikes. George Dean explores this overlooked history, emphasising the crucial research of Norma Gregory.
John Blanke - the Black Tudor
British Black History is often associated with the modern period. However, in an attempt to change that, the Bristorian explores one key Black figure from the Tudor period: John Blanke.
Review: “Slavery Obscured, Slavery Remembered: Remembering Histories of Enslavement in Bristol”
In a talk on the 28th October, Dr Richard Stone, Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, explored the legacies and histories of enslavement in the city. Dr Stone specialises in the histories and legacies of the Atlantic Slave Trade and has focused on Bristol’s role and history in this area.
The Black Panther Party and the Radical History of Self-Care
Whilst self-care as a concept has been misappropriated by health and wellness companies, its origins are firmly placed in the efforts of female Black Power activists. For Black History Month, Hope considers the Black Panther Party’s vital role in tackling health inequality, as well as the influence of queer Black women in creating the concept of self-care.
