A movement is underway in the U.K. to launch the nation”™s first museum dedicated to Black British history.
According to a Time Out report, The Black British Museum Project is being directed by a coalition of heritage-industry professionals seeking to highlight the lesser-known historical narratives related to the Black experience, including ancient African civilizations and the Black presence in Roman Britain.
“It”™s time for a change, it”™s time for now, and it”™s time for a space where people think: ”˜Actually, yeah, this is us,”™” said Project Director Sandra Shakespeare. “This is equally our space, and this is a museum we can call home.”
The U.K. is home to approximately 2,500 museums. Shakespeare stated the proposed museum would not seek to Liverpool”™s International Slavery Museum and London”™s Museum of Slavery and Freedom. Instead, she added, it would create a pride of heritage.
“We”™re hoping it”™s a space that can show bold designs, different types of stories, different narratives and stories and aspects of Black British history that are not necessarily widely known, but we know will have appeal,” she said. “If they come from the communities, as we hope they will, then even better.”
The Black British Museum Project currently operates an online archive and hopes to have a permanent venue within the next five years.
Photo: Pablo Fanque, the celebrated 19th century Black British circus proprietor and equestrian.
