Black and British: A short, essential history for young readers

By: David Olusoga

Narrated by: Ben Onwukwe

Winner of the Book of the Year, Children's Illustrated and Non-Fiction at The British Book Awards, 2021

Inspire young readers with this short, essential introduction to Black British history by award-winning historian and broadcaster David Olusoga.

When did Africans first come to Britain?

Who are the well-dressed black children in Georgian paintings?

Why did the American Civil War disrupt the Industrial Revolution?

These and many other questions are answered in this essential introduction to 1800 years of Black British history: from the Roman Africans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall right up to the present day.

This children's version of the bestseller Black and British: A Forgotten History is illustrated with maps, photos and portraits.

Critic reviews

For readers aged 12+, the book asks some thought-provoking questions and answers them in a smart and thorough style that will teach adults as much as it will children. We can see why it’s been called a must-read.

In non fiction, David Olusoga’s authoritative text has been condensed for children in Black and British: A Short, Essential History (Macmillan). It ranges from the first Africans to come to Britain to the shameful Windrush scandal, and takes in the industrial revolution, cotton grown on slave plantations and the black soldiers who fought for Britain in the first world war. Olusoga’s book conveys with calm clarity why all British children should be taught black history

Discovering history is as entertaining as it is informative

And to the present day: David Olusoga is the best possible person to write Black and British: A Short, Essential History (Pan Macmillan). This new, updated edition of his 2016 book is aimed at younger readers, and it appears at a time when many people are debating the best ways to tell histories of empire and race in the classroom. Olusoga describes it as "the book I wish I had been given to read when I was at school", and I couldn't agree more

In this new title, Olusoga has distilled and reframed his bestselling Black and British: A Forgotten History for younger readers. Spanning the period from Roman Britain to the modern day, Olusoga’s expertly crafted narrative makes history engaging for a new audience in clever and accessible ways. Olusoga has by no means “dumbed-down” his research from Black and British: A Forgotten History, and he forces young people to engage directly with Britain’s often-brutal past, discussing overlooked or ignored histories. Black and British: A Short, Essential History clearly demonstrates that Black History is all our history – a vital and important book.

An absolute must-read for adults and secondary school children alike.

Let’s face it, some history books can be quite boring unless you’re particularly into history, like me, but this highly accessible text from renowned broadcaster and historian David Olusoga is a fascinating eye-opening quick read that you won’t be able to put down. Adapted from his best-selling adult version, this clearly written balanced evidence-based history book for 12+ concisely charts the forgotten histories of Black people who have inhabited Britain from Roman times right through to the present day. The most arresting part for me was learning more detail about the logistics of the transatlantic slave trade and Britain’s absolutely pivotal role in the process - something that has been completely airbrushed out of the teaching of British history. But no longer - this book sets the record straight and is an essential addition for your libraries. As it’s more suitable for teens upwards I won’t be writing a long review, though I’d say primary teachers might want to think about reading it for their own knowledge

Rich, Relevant, eye opening

Thank you for this amazing piece of what hopefully will become a standard read at school. My eyes got opened and I got inspired to learn more about British history. I feel like my understanding of British history is much more grounded now. As a foreigner, a continental European of mixed race’s background, something about British history has been very difficult to grasp and always felt nebulous. Now some not only missing, but fundamental pieces are finally put together for the whole picture. Great performance. Good writing, easy to understand. Listened to it in one day.

Smart and Illuminating

It discusses the good and bad quite objectively. Many people said that Britain did not have a racial problem unlike the United States. That’s simply not the case and this book explains how the nations are similar and different.Well done.

A great lesson!

I encourage everyone to read this book. It's an interesting rendition of a broader understanding of world history.

What a great book

If your born in the Uk or now reside in the UK, this book is a must to learn about British history.
Black people around the world have suffered and the UK is no exception.
10 stars..