News

22 Apr 2025

Exhibition considers College’s legacies of enslavement

An exhibition highlighting the links of Newnham College founders to the transatlantic enslavement economy, is to open at the College. The exhibition is part of a programme of enquiry, at Newnham and across the University of Cambridge, to consider ways in which collegiate Cambridge contributed to, benefitted from or challenged the Atlantic slave tra…

Interior of a historic library with tall wooden bookshelves filled with books, ornate vaulted ceiling with decorative patterns, a large arched window at the back, and a blue upholstered chair in the centre on a parquet floor.

12 Mar 2025

Re-examining abolition

Scholar-activist Dr Nathaniel Adam Tobias Coleman delivered a powerful and extensively-researched talk on Britain and the abolition of enslavement, at the @homertonchangemakers #TuesdayConversations in March.Read the story on the Homerton College website.

Group of people seated around a table in a meeting room, with water bottles and glasses on the table. The background shows a wooden door and a framed painting on the wall.

27 Feb 2025

Black Town & Gown: The historical legacy of Black presence in the city of Cambridge

Interview with Dr Kenny Monrose FRSA, a Fellow at Wolfson College and Researcher in the Department of Sociology, discussing his project exploring the historical legacy of Black presence in Cambridge. Read the full interview on the main University website.

Large white text reading “BLACK TOWN BLACK GOWN” over a street scene in Cambridge, with historic buildings and railings visible in the background.

22 Jan 2024

Introducing African collections futures

This blog is the first in a series exploring the African Collections Futures project, which aims to identify Africa-related collections across the University of Cambridge, examine how they are used and understood, and consider how engagement with African institutions, communities and diaspora groups can be strengthened.The full blog is available on…

28 Sep 2023

Black British Voices: The Findings

The largest survey to date of the opinions and attitudes of Black people in Britain has revealed a central split on the question of British pride.Read the full story on the main University website.

Cover of the Black British Voices Project report, featuring the title set against a bold red background with graphic elements arranged vertically

24 Jul 2023

Selwyn College and Ameena Gafoor Institute create Visiting Fellowship in indentureship studies

The University of Cambridge has created what is believed to be the first ever visiting fellowship into the study of indentureship, the controversial system that replaced slavery in the British Empire.Read the full story on the main University website.

25 Jan 2023

Black Atlantic Power, People, Resistance

A major new exhibition explores Cambridge's role in slavery, the people it affected and their resistance to it, through fine art, technology and even everyday objects.Read the full story on the main University website.

The Black Atlantic exhibition in the Fitzwilliam Museum galleries

5 Nov 2022

Inaugural George Bridgetower Essay Prize: Maya McFarlane

We are pleased to share coverage of Maya McFarlane, winner of the inaugural 2022 George Bridgetower Essay Prize. The pieces below include a feature by the Black Advisory Hub and a University of Cambridge news story, offering different perspectives on the prize and its significance.Maya McFarlane: winner of the inaugural George Bridgetower Essay Pri…