For teachers and heritage and cultural workers. This day-long event consists of a series of lectures from Alan Lester, Professor of Historical Geography and editor of The Truth About Empire: Real Histories of British Colonialism, summarising what expert historians understand about the histories of British slavery and colonialism; and workshops in which participants can share experiences and discuss best practice.
Detailed Description
After the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, many institutions including schools and heritage organisations became more willing to find out and talk about contentious histories of British enslavement and colonialism. The greater openness was challenged immediately by a backlash from groups claiming that the telling of these histories is unpatriotic and self-defeating. Educating about the British Empire has become part of a culture war in which right wing populism is pitched against so-called ‘wokery’.
This day-long event consists of a series of lectures from Alan Lester, Professor of Historical Geography and editor of The Truth About Empire: Real Histories of British Colonialism, summarising what expert historians understand about the histories of British slavery and colonialism; and workshops in which participants can share experiences and discuss best practice.
We hope that participants will end the day feeling both better informed about contested history and better supported by the networks created.
Date: 21 June 2025
Time: 9:30am – 5pm
In person at Sussex Campus
Speaker: Professor Alan Lester
This full-day non-accredited CPD workshop is open to all professionals who find it relevant to their practice.
For group bookings please contact us at socialchangehub@sussex.ac.uk.
