Contemporary black history and writing in Britain: David Olusoga, Afua Hirsh, and Reni- Eddo-Lodge

Questions regarding multiethnicity and black history in Great Britain have remained, on the whole, of interest in particular to areas of academic study such as literature, postcolonial studies and sociology and have not been taken up by the mainstream media. However, this has changed recently: against the backdrop of events such as the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the multi-ethnic character of the London Olympics, and the controversy over the treatment of the so-called “Windrush Generation”, mainstream media has begun to focus on these issues. Three recent books, by David Olusoga, Afua Hirsh, and Reni Eddo-Lodge, both represent this new attention and contribute to the debate. Some topics, however, still remain marginal to this media attention: episodes of violence towards the black population, economic and social discrimination, and issues of heritage and memory particularly linked to Britain’s involvement in the slave trade and the slave economy.