October is Black History Month, a time to reflect on the accomplishments, experiences and challenges faced by Black people. Here in Bath, there are various talks, tours and exhibitions lined up to mark the month.
This year's theme is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, shining a light on stories from the black community and the influence and impact they've had. Learn more about the contributions that Black people have made nationally, internationally, and to our local community through these events.
Black Histories in Bath
Download this app to learn more about lesser-known and under-documented contributions made by people of African and Caribbean descent in Bath, including some well-known sights and iconic buildings.
Guided Tours at Fairfield House (Sundays in October)
Fairfield House in Newbridge was the residence of Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia and one of the most influential statesmen in history, during the five years he spent in exile (1936–41). During Black History Month knowledgeable volunteers are leading tours around the house, revealing how the house was used in his time as well as his deep connection to with Bath.
There will also be an Ethiopian Community New Year Celebration on Saturday 18 October.
Image - Haile Selassie I with his family
William Beckford and the transatlantic slave trade
Built between 1826 and 1827 for William Beckford (1760-1844), Beckford’s Tower is a key landmark on a hill overlooking Bath, however Beckford’s ability to build the tower, and to collect art and furniture to store in it, was made possible by a fortune built on the profits of sugar plantations in Jamaica. An animated video in the museum explores the root of William Beckford’s wealth, including the Beckford family’s plantation ownership on Jamaica, telling the story of their involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
Image - Beckford's Tower
Exploring colonial legacies through aromatherapy at the Holburne Museum (9 October)
Explore the hidden legacies of colonialism in the museum’s collection – through scent. In this unique sensory workshop, aromatherapist and botanical perfumer Lindsay Woodman invites you to engage with these histories in an embodied way. Drawing on her creative response to our collection, Lindsay will guide you in making your own therapeutic pulse-point perfume to take home.
Image: The Holburne Museum
Searching for My Slave Roots - Malik Al Nasir author talk at University of Bath (21 October)
Celebrated author and award-winning researcher, Malik Al Nasir will talk about his book 'Searching for my Slave Roots: From Guyana’s Sugar Plantations to Cambridge', a powerful exploration of ancestry, enslavement, and legacy. You can join in person or online. Book tickets
Kehinde Andrews for Nobody Can Give You Freedom at Topping & Company (23 October)
Kehinde Andrews returns to Bath discuss his brand new book on the real political mission of Malcolm X, and why it needs resurrecting now - 100 years after his birth. Book tickets
An Evening with Zadie Smith at Topping & Company (9 November)
Zadie will talk through her new book 'Dead and Alive', an illuminating new essay collection which shows her unrivalled ability to think through critically and humanely some of the most urgent preoccupations of our troubled times. Book tickets
Walking Bath’s Uncomfortable Past
This self-guided walk takes in several key buildings and attractions, showing the splendours of 18th century Bath which were funded by the transatlantic slave trade. The walk also offers insight into the lives of some Bath residents and visitors who contributed to dismantling the slave economy by writing and campaigning against it, such as Emma Sturge, Hannah Moore or William Wilberforce. The walk also pays tribute to prominent Africans and African descendants who visited the city like violin virtuoso Georges Bridgetower and actor Ira Aldridge. Download the walking map here
Image - A route map of Walking Bath’s Uncomfortable Past
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