History suggests that the disillusioned and the disaffected do not readily take to the streets nor man the barricades to defend a system that failed to defend them.
David OlusogaRead
Most people involved in the delivery of history, in universities, publishing, museums and the heritage industry, are aware that we have a problem with diversity and inclusivity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the lack of diversity and inclusivity in institutions that represent history.
David Olusoga's quote emphasizes a significant issue within the fields of education, publishing, and heritage, where the representation of diverse perspectives in the narrative of history is often lacking. This awareness among professionals signals the need for increased efforts to address and remedy these gaps to ensure a more inclusive understanding of history that reflects the experiences and contributions of all groups.
Themes
DiversityInclusivityHistoryEducationHeritage
In practice
Example use cases
In a university lecture about historical representation, a professor could use this quote to initiate a discussion on the importance of inclusivity.
More from David Olusoga
All quotes βNo matter that you're a British citizen, no matter that you were born here - your skin colour means you do not have the same rights as others to express critical opinions about your own country.
David OlusogaRead
Public buildings, built from the rates and taxes paid by past generations, are being auctioned off by impoverished councils who need the money to pay the redundancies of workers they can no longer afford to employ. Many of these grand Victorian buildings will be turned into flats that most people will never be able to afford.
David OlusogaRead
Black history is a series of missing chapters from British history. I'm trying to put those bits back in.
David OlusogaRead
We nonchalantly expect that next year's smartphone will be faster and better than this year's, yet we struggle to imagine that society and our lives could progress at anything like the pace at which technology advances and we meekly accept it when things go backwards.
David OlusogaRead
Our national history cannot be national if, in the near future, one in three young adults feels their stories remain untold, if this country's long global history of empire and interconnections is marginalised and if the historical reality of race is rendered almost invisible.
David OlusogaRead
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