So, I’m seeing variations and copies of this article popping up all over the internet, many referring to the course as “disturbing and dangerous”. Even a cursory reading of the supposed criticisms coming from academics who have a problem with the new course shows that it’s rooted in racism:

“This stands history on its head, projecting back on to the past something that isn’t true. The only Africans who came here were a few with the Romans who came and then left. I find it disturbing that our children should be taught something that is clearly designed to feed into contemporary problems rather than tell our island’s story properly.”

Note the use of the word “properly,” and all that implies. Apparently including information about people who were not white is enough to “stand history on its head”. *eyeroll*



The entire point of contention here seems to be with some wording from a book that’s going to be used in the course, which is Peter Fryer’s Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain.



The whole “Africans arrived in Britain before the English” hyperbole just has to do with documentation of Romans of African descent being stationed at Hadrian’s Wall, along with Ivory Bangle Lady and other famous remains of Romans found in Britain. This predates the arrival of Anglo-Saxons by a few centuries, and isn’t a particularly controversial point unless you’re a white supremacist who is unreasonably threatened by historical information being available about anyone who isn’t white.



One of the historians working on the course said:

“It is an outstanding example of how a long view of history helps us to understand and to find a place for ourselves in contemporary society. Our research project shows how, for example, in the late Middle Ages, no one was more than ten miles from an immigrant.”

The course is entitled “Migration To Britain c. 1,000 to c. 2010″. According to news outlets, the description states:

“This course will enable students to learn how the movement of people – European, African, Asian – to and from these islands has shaped the story of this nation for thousands of years.”

That’s what’s apparently so threatening, so “Dangerous and disturbing”: the radical idea that historically, human beings have moved around. Sadly, the same arguments I’ve been having here for the last three years are the same ones still going on in academic circles now. If anyone knows more about this course and its materials, please feel free to send a submission or add it in the notes.

