In this episode, we bring together anthropologist Professor Nayanika Mookherjee, sociologist Dr Sol Gamsu, and historian Dr Liam Liburd to discuss The Absence/Presence of Durham’s Black History. Through archival research, student collaboration, and a new Black History Walking Tour, the team reveal how Durham’s cathedral, university, and community are intertwined with global histories of colonialism, enslavement, resistance and race. This thoughtful conversation shows that rather than simply making invisible people visible, the project seeks to surface the recorded but untold stories of Black and minoritised individuals and to reframe the narratives surrounding celebrated institutions and figures in the region. In the process, it reminds us about the legacies of colonial power, and the continuing importance of re-examining the past. Above all, the walking trail highlights the interconnections between various working class communities.
Please visit the website for the walking trail:
https://durhams-black-history.humap.site/
Link for Sean Creighton and also relevant media links:
https://durhams-black-history.humap.site/about
Link to Durham's Palatinate Newspaper: https://www.palatinate.org.uk