Glasgow University academics urge students taking new slavery course to check their own family histories for links to the trade because 'the past is not over'

• Glasgow University is encouraging slavery course students to check their family history for links to the slave trade because 'past is not over'
• Dr Peggy Brunache of Glasgow said 'racial inequality' and 'anti-black racism' are 'infused into the very fabric of contemporary society' 
• Four-week free online course will go live on October 12 on FutureLearn.com

Glasgow University academics today urged students enrolling for a new course about slavery to check their family history for links to the slave trade.

The university has teamed up with the Jamaica-based University of the West Indies to deliver the online course, which the organisers say 'will take people on a 350-year journey from West Africa and the Caribbean through to the Windrush Generation and the present day'.

They added: 'People who take part in the course will be encouraged to reflect on their own family history and look for the legacies of slavery in their own community.'

Lead contributor on the course from Glasgow Dr Peggy Brunache said today: 'The past is not over. The past is still the present.'

The course launch comes as Britain embarks on Black History Month, and amid continuing controversy about issues including the renaming of David Hume Tower in Edinburgh over the philosopher's alleged links to slavery.

Critics say the University of Edinburgh's decision to rename the tower 40 George Square 'traduces' the reputation of the great Scotsman, who went on to become an outspoken critic of slavery.

MailOnline reported today that the Edinburgh International Festival was forced to apologise for the 'lack of diversity' in its August programme after less than 300 campaigners demanded that organisers book more female, disabled and black performers – or risk being defunded.

Dr Brunache, a history lecturer and director of the Glasgow University's Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, said that 'racial inequality' and 'anti-black racism' are 'infused into the very fabric of contemporary society'. 

She added 'these structures of power' continue to 'privilege those who identify as white'.

'While the abolition of the slave trade and racial slavery occurred in the early 19th century, the structures of racial inequality and anti-black racism have never dissipated,' Dr Brunache said.

'Does that mean that every white British citizen is racist? Of course not.

'However, these structures of power remain infused into the very fabric of contemporary society, privileging those who identify as white and especially those with generational wealth. It's as insidiously active in the Commonwealth Caribbean as much as it is in the British metropole.'

The four-week free online course, called History of Slavery in the British Caribbean on the leading social learning platform, FutureLearn.com, is now open for registration and will go live on October 12.

It will explore the debate in the UK about the treatment of symbols of Britain's colonial past sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests, particularly statues which critics allege glorify British imperialism and the slave trade.

Dr Christine Whyte, lecturer in global history based at the University of Glasgow, said: 'The important thing about this course is its emphasis on British involvement in slavery, which was both long-lasting and significant to many aspects of British society and economy, and its focus on the words of the enslaved to describe their own experiences.'

Dr Zachary Beier of The University of the West Indies said: 'I thought this was a great opportunity to demonstrate how academic collaboration between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean is an important step in rectifying the history of exploitative and unbalanced relationships between these regions.

'Additionally, this course provided an opportunity to share information about significant historical archaeological research in the Caribbean islands and material culture collections stored at The UWI.

'The UWI plays an important role in ensuring the significant history and cultural resources of the Caribbean are properly considered and accessible to an increasingly interested global community.'