Video & Audio

In this fascinating opening session of The Black Jacobins Revisited: Rewriting History Conference in Liverpool, Robert Hill takes us through the changes James makes to editions of his celebrated anti-colonial classic and how these reflected the moment in which he wrote them. Bill Schwarz examines the influences on C.L.R. James and their reflection in Black Jacobins and helps us understand James’ conception of history.
The speakers are: Robert A. Hill, Associate Professor of History at UCLA and director of the Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project. Robert Hill is the literary executor of the estate of the late C.L.R. James and Bill Schwarz, Professor of English at Queen Mary University, London. This opening plenary session was introduced by conference organiser, writer and lecturer Rachel Douglas. This video was produced by WORLDwrite C.L.R. James project volunteers attending the Black Jacobins Conference held at the International Slavery Museum and Bluecoat Arts Centre in Liverpool. The conference marked the 75th anniversary of the publication of C.L.R. James’ book The Black Jacobins.