Book talk: Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain’s Colonial Past
Posted on 9th December, 2025
Join the authors of the open access book Teaching Slavery: New Approaches to Britain’s Colonial Past for a hybrid book talk hosted by the Institute of Historical Research.
Date: 11th December 2025
Time: 17:30–19:30 GMT
Location: Hybrid | Online-via Zoom & Room 349, Third Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
Series: Black British History
Registration link: https://www.history.ac.uk/news-events/events/book-talk-teaching-slavery-new-approaches-britains-colonial-past
All welcome– this seminar is free to attend but advance registration is required.
This groundbreaking book brings together the latest academic research on Britain’s involvement in transatlantic slavery, with innovative thinking on the teaching of such challenging histories in the classroom. It provides an essential framework for transforming how slavery is conceptualised and taught in British secondary schools by addressing three specific areas of concern: limits of teacher training on historical content and pedagogical approaches; the scarcity of high-quality, appropriate, research-based resources; and the lack of supporting published material to guide teachers on the principles, knowledge and practice for ethical classroom engagement.
Drawing on insights from a long-term partnership between historians and educators Teaching Slavery combines sophisticated historical analysis with practical pedagogical guidance. The early part of the book offers thorough historiographical examination of key themes, including race, the gendering of slavery, resistance and rethinking abolition. These are followed by detailed guidance on overcoming the challenges of teaching these histories, including exemplar enquiries to help teachers establish a classroom where teachers and students can confidently engage in dialogue about key ideas, including the construction of race and racism. Throughout, the authors emphasise the importance of historical specificity and the need to critically engage with Britain’s history of slavery and empire.