The Oxford Companion to Black British History is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the long and fascinating history of black people in the British Isles, from African auxiliaries stationed on Hadrian's Wall in the 2nd century AD, through John Edmonstone, who taught taxidermy to Charles Darwin, Mary Seacole, the 'Black Florence Nightingale', and Walter Tull, footballer and First World War officer, to our own day. It considers such key concepts as Emancipation and Reparations. It is also timely: the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority highlighted in their annual report of December 2005 the need to give more attention to the wider teaching of black history. OCBBH brings together a unique collection of articles which provides an overview of the black presence in Britain, and the rich and diverse contribution made to British society.
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Review
The editors of the new Oxford Companion to Black British History have done us a great service...They have come up with a volume which is gripping, full of extraordinary people, events and insights. (Joanna Blythman, Sunday Herald (Glasgow - Seven Days) )
[A] most useful compendium of our recent knowledge. (Journal of the Historical Association )
[There are] countless captivating facts in this tour de force of debunking and education...The OCBBH is packed with enough enlightenment and sheer serendipity to make one wish it were twice as long. Anyone who wants to understand what British is all about should buy a copy. (Margaret Busby, The Independent (Review) )
An essential reference book and the first of its kind...This is an informative and fascinating read, which every black household should have. (Pride Magazine )
A magisterial excavation of black Britain...every student in the country should read it. (Christina Patterson, The Independent )
Essential (Graham Gendall Norton, History Today )
[A] most useful compendium of our recent knowledge. (Journal of the Historical Association )
[There are] countless captivating facts in this tour de force of debunking and education...The OCBBH is packed with enough enlightenment and sheer serendipity to make one wish it were twice as long. Anyone who wants to understand what British is all about should buy a copy. (Margaret Busby, The Independent (Review) )
An essential reference book and the first of its kind...This is an informative and fascinating read, which every black household should have. (Pride Magazine )
A magisterial excavation of black Britain...every student in the country should read it. (Christina Patterson, The Independent )
Essential (Graham Gendall Norton, History Today )
About the Author
David Dabydeen is a Professor in the Centre for Caribbean Studies at the University of Warwick. Recent publications include Slavery, Abolition and Emancipation: Black Writers in the British Romantic Period (1999), and the novel A Harlot's Progress, which was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Guyana's Ambassador to UNESCO.
John Gilmore is a lecturer in the Centre for Caribbean Studies at the University of Warwick. Recent publications include A-Z of Barbados Heritage, Empires and Conquests, and Freedom and Change.
Cecily Jones is a member of the Sociology Department of the University of Warwick, where she is Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Caribbean Studies.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Amonavis
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A brilliant reference book, covering from Roman times to 2006. It is easy to find the exact person or event that you are researching. Every home should have one.
By J. Robinson
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As is often the case unfortunately, Black British history is under-represented and lacks documentation. Often when looking at 'black' history, we are directed to many things American, and whilst some of its historical perspectives may be used as a means to evaluate British history, it cannot provide a wholistic picture for 'people of colour' in Britain. Indeed, it cannot provide a whole picture of ALL of British history for which black, white and everything else in between is entwined. The very title 'Black British History' makes plain the book's simple, but important content. At the very least it should be on every educational institution's bookshelf.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's not a musical review
23 Oct 2007
By R. E. Waterman
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The previous reviewer seems to be under the impression that black cultural influences and presence is simply defined by music.
This book delves into a far greater range of issues.
This book delves into a far greater range of issues.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but lacking
4 Sep 2007
By Gogol
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Obviously you cant expect a single book to cover every aspect of Black British history and any book written on the subject will have shortfalls somewhere but I felt this book was something of a let down.
Set out in an almost encyclopedia style it lacks in some subjects that I realy think needed more detail. For example Northern Soul is missing, on looking under soul there is only a brief mention of bands such as the Real Thing and De La Soul hardly a history of the music in Britain! Northern Soul was a unique aspect of British culture where African American music became almost a fashon in northern towns in Britian you would have thought this would be worth a mention but it is not even there.
Ska is hardly mentioned, just a brief history but the usual 'Skinheads are racists' and 'racists latching onto 'white reggae bands such as Madness'' is churned out. Considering the amount of books available now on the history of skinheads themselves (and their own connection with Ska and reggae music) I would have thought there would have been a mention of this in the book and the author had not taken such an irisponsible stance on the subject.
Lots of chapters though such as crime, the NHS and other subjects that I feel may be of some interest dont realy have any clear reflection of Black British history. If the intention of the book is to show Black history in the UK and the contribution it has made to the UK then to a large extent it has failed. At times reading the book you are left thinking "This may have been written 20 years ago!"
All in all I bought this book expecting something positive expressing the infux of a culture into the UK that has influenced almsot every aspect of it, from the working class mods and skinheads of the 60s and 70s, the northern soul to Prodigy and rave music of the 90s, to spots, politics and education. What I found was a pretty depressing book.
Worth reading maybe, but look for a second hand copy and save yourself some money.
Set out in an almost encyclopedia style it lacks in some subjects that I realy think needed more detail. For example Northern Soul is missing, on looking under soul there is only a brief mention of bands such as the Real Thing and De La Soul hardly a history of the music in Britain! Northern Soul was a unique aspect of British culture where African American music became almost a fashon in northern towns in Britian you would have thought this would be worth a mention but it is not even there.
Ska is hardly mentioned, just a brief history but the usual 'Skinheads are racists' and 'racists latching onto 'white reggae bands such as Madness'' is churned out. Considering the amount of books available now on the history of skinheads themselves (and their own connection with Ska and reggae music) I would have thought there would have been a mention of this in the book and the author had not taken such an irisponsible stance on the subject.
Lots of chapters though such as crime, the NHS and other subjects that I feel may be of some interest dont realy have any clear reflection of Black British history. If the intention of the book is to show Black history in the UK and the contribution it has made to the UK then to a large extent it has failed. At times reading the book you are left thinking "This may have been written 20 years ago!"
All in all I bought this book expecting something positive expressing the infux of a culture into the UK that has influenced almsot every aspect of it, from the working class mods and skinheads of the 60s and 70s, the northern soul to Prodigy and rave music of the 90s, to spots, politics and education. What I found was a pretty depressing book.
Worth reading maybe, but look for a second hand copy and save yourself some money.
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