Led by expert historian and curator S. I. Martin, the Black Seafarers and Revolutionary Politics 5-week course will reassess the forgotten traditions and communities of Black mariners. This course will give you an opportunity to critically examine the relationship between service at sea and social mobility, and the connections between seafaring experiences and the African diaspora’s contribution to abolition, radicalism, and political leadership.

Drawing on archive materials, accounts and research you will gain an in-depth understanding of the Black seafarers everyday experiences by examining their autobiographies, which chronicle the development and rise of their political thought, and settlement in Africa, North America, Britain and the Caribbean.

Course lecturer: S. I. Martin

Fees and Eligibility

• Courses are suitable for all abilities. Recommended for 15 years and older.
• Fees per 5-week course are £50 per person.
• Please ensure you are able to commit to the full course to fully benefit, as each week covers different topics and subject areas.

Course Breakdown

• Week 1: Introducing the Black Mariner
• Week 2: Black Sailors in the Royal Navy
• Week 3: Black Seaman and Radicalism
• Week 4: The Making of the ‘Black Atlantic’
• Week 5: Daily Life and Resistance in Britain’s Port Cities

For enquiries about the Black Cultural Archives’ Black History Courses, email learning@bcaheritage.org.uk