David Olusoga pays tribute to York pioneer of the history of slavery
On Wednesday 20 April 2022 we welcomed David Olusoga OBE, Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester and well known author and TV presenter, to join us in the Bowland Lecture theatre of the Humanities Research Centre.
This event was to celebrate the publication of A World Transformed: slavery in the Americas and the origins of global power, the latest book by Professor emeritus of the department James Walvin. David joined our own Henrice Altink to comment on Jim's latest contribution to the field of slavery studies, which his books have helped shape since the publication of Black and White (1973), awarded the Martin Luther King Memorial Prize. in 1975. Henrice situated Jim's approach in the wider field while David gave moving testimony of the impact Jim's work had on a Nigerian-British Geordie growing up on Tyneside.
A wine and canape reception followed what was a well-attended event where friends, former colleagues and students were able to join together in celebrating Jim's lifetime contribution to the history of slavery, for which he too was awarded an OBE (in 2008).