Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol.
via University of Bristol
David is one of the nation’s leading historians in military history, empire, and slavery. He is currently Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester and director of Hillgate Films.
David has many academic achievements including an award-winning book and TV documentary called Black and British: A Forgotten History. He has also contributed to many publications, most notably the Oxford Companion to Black British History.
David has a myriad of TV credits, and has even presented the long-running BBC series A House Through Time.
Six years ago, David was awarded an OBE for services to history and community integration. His long list of inspiring achievements include the BAFTA special award, the British Academy’s Presidents Medal and the Norton Medlicott Medal for services to history.
David is a fellow of the British Academy, The Royal Society of Literature, The Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Historical Society. He will also be hosting an in-conversation event with former president Barack Obama at the O2 Arena in September.
“The thought is when are the grown-ups going to arrive? At some point you need to accept one of two things. One of these things must be true. Either there are no grown-ups, and they are never going to turn up or the other is that you have become the grown-ups because of the work and the dedication and those thousands of hours that you expended here on your studies.
“Because of the journey that you’re about to embark upon, because of the springboard into life your studies here will bring you – you will become the grown-ups, and you will work out there ain’t no one coming. It’s down to you. You face a world that my generation did not. Your generation will shape this new epoch, whatever it is going to be, whatever it is going to be called, and you will shape it because you have much, much more power than you realise. You will inherit this nation. You will inherit its future.”
via University of Bristol
During the ceremony, Dr Marie-Annick Gournet, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Reparative and Civic Futures) added: “Here at this university, we are on our own journey to confront our historic links to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and the urgent need for reparative justice. It is challenging work, and it should be. David’s work reminds us that confronting the past isn’t about tearing down – it’s about building up, by telling the whole story.
“He shows us that truth-telling isn’t about shame – it’s about dignity. It isn’t about erasing history – it’s about completing it. And when we engage in that work bravely and honestly, we don’t weaken our institutions – we make them stronger, fairer, and more relevant to the world we serve. He has also been a powerful advocate for increasing diversity in academia and media. He’s spoken candidly about the isolation of being one of the few Black historians in British television, and about the importance of representation; not as a box to tick, but as a vital part of understanding our shared history.”
David then attended a panel event hosted by Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice Chancellor and President, and Dr Gournet. The panel considered how collective leadership can facilitate real change by listening and responding to the voices of Black communities in Bristol. David shared valuable insight on leadership, and Professor Welch and Dr Gournet spoke about the progress the university had made so far, both in developing leadership and in its ongoing Reparative Futures programme.
Featured image via University of Bristol
