Black British History ESH4093

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

What do we mean by 'Black'? What do we mean by 'British'? And what, then, do we mean by 'Black British'? This course examines how these terms have been negotiated and contested during the modern period. Students will see how the identities of people of African origin and descent in Britain and its empire have been socially, geographically and politically contingent, and will gain insight into how histories of Black Britons have been approached and produced. This course provides a chronological and thematic overview of Black British history in the modern period, with a particular focus on the twentieth century. We will discuss slavery & abolition, migration, politics & activism, gender, sexuality, culture, and historiographical approaches to Black British history.

Timetable

Weekly: one hour lecture and one hour seminar

Requirements of Entry

Enrolment in an MA (SocSci) or MA (Arts) Honours Programme

Excluded Courses

ESH 4090 Themes and Debates in Economic and Social History from 2023 - 2024 only

Assessment

Essay of 3000 words (60%); Source commentary of 1500 words (40%)

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to provide students with the historical tools to understand Black British history during the modern period, especially the twentieth century. This will be achieved through the study of both primary and secondary sources, as well as through lectures and seminar discussions. The course aims to facilitate critical thinking about race, empire and nationality through engaging with concepts about 'Blackness' and 'Britishness'.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key themes and events of modern Black British history, and how these relate more broadly to British, imperial and transnational histories.

■ Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the historical contingency of the concepts of 'Blackness' and 'Britishness', and an ability to apply these concepts critically.

■ Construct reasoned arguments about modern Black British history and to engage with existing scholarship and historiographical debates.

■ Analyse primary sources that illuminate modern Black British history.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.