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.

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.

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.

In this article, Alice Peters explores the history of the Black Panthers iconic uniform, reflecting on the impact it has on Black activism today.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

How his presence changes everything we know about Bristol’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade…

Emily Brewster explores the origins of an iconic Bristol event and the important cultural impact of St Paul’s to Bristol as a city

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.

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.

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.

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.

Discussing race, environment and colonial history, Ratinon’s new book is part history, part memoir as she unpacks what it means to find belonging in nature as a person of colour. Following the launch of Unearthed, Teagan considers ideas of heritage, place, and what it means to truly ‘belong’ in an environment…

For Black History Month, the Bristorian remembers the Harlem Renaissance. From the aftermath of the First World War until the mid-1930s, the Harlem neighbourhood in New York enjoyed an unprecedented boom in social and artistic African American culture, a golden age that echoed from Los Angeles to Paris.

The Bristorian takes a look at what can be learnt by exploring the similarities and differences between the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements

The Bristol Bus Boycott was part of a wider struggle by people of colour against racial injustice in Bristol and in Britain. In this article, The Bristorian seeks to internationalise the boycott, highlighting its global context amidst the civil rights movements that came to define the 1960s.