Exclusive: Majority of British people found to have ‘shockingly little’ knowledge about Black British history

  • jsdz@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    61
    ·
    1 year ago

    She would have expected people to name figures such as Quintus Lollius Urbicus, who became governor of Roman Britain

    Look, I know everyone in Britain is required to know the names and dates of all the monarchs going back to the 9th century, but expecting everyone to be able to come up with that name when put on the spot is going a little too far.

    • taladar@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      32
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I wouldn’t really think of Roman governors of Britain as a “British historical figure”, more like a “Roman historical figure who happened to be stationed in Britain”, same as with modern diplomats or military leaders.

    • Fat Tony@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Also, is it even confirmed he was black? I mean Algerian people are not exactly black. Could be wrong though. Don’t know if there are any ancient scripts describing him.

      • vagrantprodigy
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        13
        ·
        1 year ago

        His father was a Berber, and his mother was Roman if I’m not mistaken. Doesn’t sound like he was black.

        • njm1314@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          1 year ago

          Yeah you’ll see this a lot with Roman history anyone who lived on the continent of Africa has to be black. It’s a way of oddly, well I guess whitewashing isn’t the exact right term I’m looking for, but oversimplifying I guess history? I’ve taken the Nuance out of things. Also of diminishing other North African cultures.

          • vagrantprodigy
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            1 year ago

            It’s not just Roman history. It happened recently with the Cleopatra show. Some people can’t get their head around the idea that not all Africans are black.