claire_michelle18's review
5.0
This book should be on the curriculum for every child in this country. I have a history degree, I've studied modern British history, and I learnt more about the history of black British citizens from this book than I ever learnt in a classroom. Incredibly well written, incredibly researched, this is probably the most important history book I've ever read.
EDIT: On my second read of this book, all of the above remains true. David Olusoga writes compelling and readable history about the complex history of race and racism in the UK. Absolutely essential reading.
EDIT: On my second read of this book, all of the above remains true. David Olusoga writes compelling and readable history about the complex history of race and racism in the UK. Absolutely essential reading.
rachelemm's review against another edition
5.0
In 2017, I read Peter Fryer's seminal work 'Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain'. At the time, it was a revelation. The depth of research and detail it contained made it undeniable that black people played a key role in setting Britain's place on the world stage.
Olusoga's work, published more than 30 years later, takes a more measured view. I read some extracts from British politicians and scholars with my mouth open coming across such delightful descriptions as "lusty, coal-devils" and "blackamoors" (just lovely). However, Olusoga maintains decorum choosing to relay the facts as an interested observer and rarely letting his own background intrude on his observations.
That in itself is testament to how far we have come that a black man can research and write his history without necessarily having a point to prove. His existence is proof enough that Black British people are 'real' British people; we are here, we have always been here and things will only get better if Britons of all races work together.
Olusoga's work, published more than 30 years later, takes a more measured view. I read some extracts from British politicians and scholars with my mouth open coming across such delightful descriptions as "lusty, coal-devils" and "blackamoors" (just lovely). However, Olusoga maintains decorum choosing to relay the facts as an interested observer and rarely letting his own background intrude on his observations.
That in itself is testament to how far we have come that a black man can research and write his history without necessarily having a point to prove. His existence is proof enough that Black British people are 'real' British people; we are here, we have always been here and things will only get better if Britons of all races work together.
tronella's review against another edition
4.0
I really learned a lot from this, and it was very engagingly written - usually it takes me much longer to get through history books. However, the number of errors in grammar and punctuation was shocking! I found it very distracting. Whoever proofread this did a terrible job.
thesinginglights's review against another edition
5.0
I was sad that I couldn't top off my 2017 with this but ah well, it's a great way to start the New Year, if by great you mean harrowing, jarring, upsetting, but ultimately brilliant.
I would call this a book of demystifying various notions of the presence and significance of black Britons in history. For example, a commonly held view is that mass migration of the black population of our small isles happened when the Windrush weighed anchor in 1948. While it's a symbolic settlement of 492 people, it's one tiny fraction of the story. Olusoga takes us through personal experiences of his home being attacked and his family terrorised by the National Front, for example, but the bulk of the book is charting the interrelation of black people with Britain from as early as the Roman Empire. Of course, slavery is no alien to this book and some of the most fascinating parts are during the exploration of that dark part of our history.
Also brilliantly done is to be critical of colonial notions and hypocrisies. I was struck how there were scenes in the early 20th century that had haunting echoes to present day violence and representation of race-relations. The connection isn't made until the end of the book but I found myself muttering "this isn't much different now!" (especially with the notion of how migrants are perceived--sub in people from the Middle East when doing censuses of black people in the 50s, for example, and the attitudes and language used is near-identical). But I digress! I could continue about this for a good while, but I would just say read it and be shocked and enlightened.
One gripe I have is with figures. Olusoga writes out complex figures in text not in numerical form and it resists the eye quite a bit (so "two-hundred and thirty nine" instead of "239"). That can make it pretty slow-going. Other than that, wow.
This book will stay with me for a long time.
I would call this a book of demystifying various notions of the presence and significance of black Britons in history. For example, a commonly held view is that mass migration of the black population of our small isles happened when the Windrush weighed anchor in 1948. While it's a symbolic settlement of 492 people, it's one tiny fraction of the story. Olusoga takes us through personal experiences of his home being attacked and his family terrorised by the National Front, for example, but the bulk of the book is charting the interrelation of black people with Britain from as early as the Roman Empire. Of course, slavery is no alien to this book and some of the most fascinating parts are during the exploration of that dark part of our history.
Also brilliantly done is to be critical of colonial notions and hypocrisies. I was struck how there were scenes in the early 20th century that had haunting echoes to present day violence and representation of race-relations. The connection isn't made until the end of the book but I found myself muttering "this isn't much different now!" (especially with the notion of how migrants are perceived--sub in people from the Middle East when doing censuses of black people in the 50s, for example, and the attitudes and language used is near-identical). But I digress! I could continue about this for a good while, but I would just say read it and be shocked and enlightened.
One gripe I have is with figures. Olusoga writes out complex figures in text not in numerical form and it resists the eye quite a bit (so "two-hundred and thirty nine" instead of "239"). That can make it pretty slow-going. Other than that, wow.
This book will stay with me for a long time.
ruthlemon08's review against another edition
4.0
A comprehensive history which covers ancient migration from Africa to the UK, up to the “race riots” of the 1980s. Accessible to everyone, although it is a hefty book and I expect most people would prefer to dip in and out - this is made possible by the well segmented historical periods which are nevertheless linked, parallels drawn and names reiterated where necessary to sew together the tapestry of black history and British history. Which are, this book illustrates, one and the same
novel_nomad's review against another edition
5.0
This book will challenge your perception of British history, and is utterly brilliant how it reintroduces Black britons into their own past. It also shows how the British leaders and people idea of Black people has greatly changed many time throughout history. Cementing the idea that white supremacy and othering was essentially to further colonial and consumerist causes.
This is a book that you will experience not just read - but it is also a perfect springboard to allow us to question what stories and histories are we considering more important today.
This is a book that you will experience not just read - but it is also a perfect springboard to allow us to question what stories and histories are we considering more important today.
emalemxo's review
5.0
Black and British is written with brutal honesty, integrity, and true love for both its content and its meaning in a wider context. Equally hard to read as it is hard to put down, it’s a vital text for understanding both the relationship of British history and Black British history as it was and as it is now. Beautifully written, incredibly researched - a true testament of David Olusoga’s skill of bringing the past to life.