A new edition of a book documenting the lives and contributions of black scholars at the University of Oxford will be launched in November, with a heritage bus tour and a public talk exploring the people and stories behind the research.
Black Oxford: Untold Stories of Oxford University’s Black Scholars, by historian and author Pamela Roberts, revisits the lives of pioneering figures including Christian Frederick Cole, a barrister who studied at Oxford, and Alain LeRoy Locke, a philosopher and key intellectual figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
The updated edition also brings greater attention to African and African-American women, the experiences and contributions of the Windrush generation, and a newer generation of black scholars and leaders at the University.
Black Oxford: Untold Stories of Oxford University’s Black Scholars by historian Pamela Roberts
The launch will begin with a 60-minute open-top bus tour organised by City Sightseeing Oxford on Saturday 07 November. The tour will depart from Broad Street at 12.30pm, with tickets priced at £15 and including a signed copy of the book.
A free talk with Roberts will follow at 2.00pm at the Weston Library, in partnership with the Bodleian Libraries. Open to the public, the event will explore her research, the stories that emerged during the process of updating the book and the importance of documenting histories that have received less attention.
Roberts said continued research had brought new stories to light, adding that these histories helped connect the University’s past with the wider community.
She has previously worked with City Sightseeing Oxford to develop black heritage guided bus tours, which are available for private hire throughout the year.
Luke Marion, managing director of City Sightseeing Oxford, said the partnership aimed to make Oxford’s history accessible to a wider audience.
Roberts is the founder of Black Oxford Untold Stories, a cultural platform that documents the histories and contributions of black scholars at the University through books, heritage experiences, talks, exhibitions, film and other creative projects.
The bus tour requires a paid ticket, while the Weston Library talk is free and can be booked separately.
Tickets for the bus tour are available through City Sightseeing Oxford. Tickets for the talk can be booked through the Bodleian Libraries events website.
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