When President Barack Obama was elected in 2009, the monumental event gave hope to millions of people across the globe and in particular to those of African descent and allies who have been fighting for racial and social justice in the Global North. A few optimists even predicted a ‘post-racial era’. Those commentators were proven wrong as has been demonstrated by the backlash and the election of Donal Trump. In May 2020, following the brutal murder of African America George Floyd, the world was once again forced to face the tragic ramifications of racism. A large number of institutions in Britain issued statements in support the Black Lives Matter Movement. Over 1 year after the killing, we might collectively want to reflect on what has been achieved but also address the elephant in the room, resistance to anti-racist strategies and virulent debates about Britain’s’ troubling colonial past.  

Speakers:
Professor Olivette Otele
Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Historical Society
University of Bristol

In conversation with
Dr Kennetta Hammond Perry
Director, Stephen Lawrence Research Centre and Reader in History
De Montfort University

Chair:
Dr Nik Ribianszky
Lecturer in American History
School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics
Queen's University Belfast

Organisers:
BAME&I Network and Centre for Public History, QUB

Registration: 
http://go.qub.ac.uk/iRISE21Sep