The little-known stories of the very first Black scholars to study at Oxford University are being celebrated on a guided bus tour of the city.
City Sightseeing Oxford’s Black Oxford Untold Stories tour returns this month to tell the fascinating stories of the African, African Americans, Black British and Caribbean students who made a lasting impact in academia, law, politics and the arts.
Expert commentary by award-winning author Pamela Roberts adapted from her book 'Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars’ breathes life into the stories while passengers can walk the same historic streets the students walked and shared their early ideas.
Passengers will learn about Christian Frederick Cole, who became the university's first-ever Black student in 1873 and Britain’s first Black barrister. Plus, James Arthur Harley, the first Black anthropology student at the Pitt Rivers Museum and Lady Kofoworola Moore, the first Black African woman to achieve a degree at Oxford, among many more.
The tour explores the city’s iconic locations, including the Radcliffe Camera and the Bridge of Sighs and locations such as the Oxford Union which hosted civil rights activist Malcolm X in 1964.
Pamela created the tour to challenge the misconception that Black students historically did not study at Oxford.
She explained: “The tour sets out to correct this falsehood and celebrate the achievements of Black scholars at Oxford. Visibility and representation matter, and this tour engages audiences by illuminating these essential stories. We want people to enjoy Oxford’s stunning architecture while gaining vital historical knowledge.”
City Sightseeing Oxford’s Black History tour was launched last year and operated across the summer and October’s Black History Month. last summer and operated for three Saturdays during last October's Black History Month.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of City Sightseeing Oxford, said: "Following the popularity of the tours last year, we are pleased to be providing additional tours this spring and summer.
“We’re proud to continue this innovative partnership to help share Oxford's diverse cultural history to a wider audience.
"Pamela's captivating storytelling brings the experiences of these pioneering students to life and we’re looking forward to operating the tours in the coming weeks.”
Black Oxford Untold Stories is available on selected Saturdays in March, April and May and must be booked in advance.
Bespoke private tours and educational tours can be arranged and tailored to suit specific interests or guided by Pamela herself.
Tickets for the 90-minute tour cost £20 for adults, £15 for seniors and students and £11 for children.
Tour participants have the option to enhance their experience by including City Sightseeing Oxford’s hop-on hop-off bus service as an add-on, available at a discounted rate of just £5.
Owned by Oxford Bus Company, City Sightseeing Oxford’s hop-on, hop-off bus tours of the city’s most famous landmarks provides an on-board audio commentary in 14 languages.
Pamela has written for BBC History Magazine, Royal Anthropological Journal, and Oxford University Press. She is a member of the Royal Society of the Arts, the Royal Historical Society and an Alumnus of the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library.
Find out more on the tour via the City Sightseeing Oxford website.