Oxford Scholars Remembered

Black Oxford: Untold Stories, launched last year on the 5th October at the Oxford University Natural History Museum, is the first black heritage project which includes a guided heritage walking tour, an exhibition and book. 

The project originally funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, celebrates Oxford University’s black scholars at the turn of the century – and even earlier such as:

• Edward Nelson who attended St. John’s College, was secretary of the Oxford Union), became a barrister and involved in a famous case of the day, the Stalybridge murder of 1909.
• Norman Manley, who attended Jesus College as a Rhodes Scholar 1914 and was one of the most successful barristers in Jamaica
• Alain Locke, the first black Rhodes Scholar, attended Hertford College 1907 – 1910.
• Ania Moore, the first African woman to achieve a degree from St. Hughes in 1935.

The Black Oxford guided heritage tour is an two hours history lesson featuring 2,000 years of the Black British presence, the contribution of Black people in the First and Second World War, the Windrush generation and the presence and contribution of Oxford University’s Black scholars.

Black Oxford is a unique and innovative in that it is the only black heritage project to train members of the community as guides to deliver the tours.  This year Black Oxford launched the first accredited tour guiding course, in partnership with Ruskin College, to train members of the community as potential guides to a recognised and competent level with in-depth knowledge of Black British, African American and Caribbean history, tour guiding techniques, marketing and promotion.

The Black Oxford exhibition celebrates the achievements of 16 Black scholars, many of whom overcame tremendous challenges to study at the University of Oxford. The 13 panel exhibition is divided into five themes:

By the 1760s, the Black population had grown to somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000; Granville Sharp estimated the number of black servants in London alone at 20,000�

• Great Leaders
• Musical Maestro
• Oxford originals
• Rhodes Scholars
• Great legal eagles

The exhibition includes archival material, memorabilia and archival footage. The exhibition opened on the 12th May at the Museum of Oxford and ran until the 1st July, the exhibition will then go on a 18th month tour around various museums in Oxfordshire.  The exhibition opens at the Centre of Oxfordshire Studies, Westgate Centre, Oxford on Thursday 6th September and runs until 30th October.

Black Oxford: Untold Stories is the brainchild of Pamela Roberts, founder and executive director of Artistry Events, a non for profit organisation, set up to develop and deliver arts and media projects to educate, empower and entertain diverse audiences.

BacK: Entertainment