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In Search of Black History with Bonnie Greer

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In Search of Black History with Bonnie Greer

By: Bonnie Greer
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About this listen

In Search Of Black History with Bonnie Greer brings you face-to-face with the people you never knew existed. People whose stories tell us a different tale about who we all are. From the earliest glimmerings of modern humanity, up to the present day, Bonnie Greer uncovers the lives of people of African descent that don't fit with the accepted history of Western Civilisation we've traditionally been taught. From saints, to philosophers, to warrior women and king's heralds - these people's lives have been lost, hidden and distorted down the centuries. We've lost the full richness and complexity of our shared histories - it's time to fill in the gaps.

In this eight part series, playwright and former Trustee of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer, travels with us through the ages, meeting the academics and experts who are uncovering these stories at the cutting edge of historical research, and she brings their subjects' lives to life - with an imaginative re-telling of their stories.

This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 8 episodes to your Library now.

©2019 Audible, Ltd. (P)2019 Audible, Ltd. Historical
Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Bones Do Not Lie

    Ep. 1: Bones Do Not Lie
    Dec 19 2019

    We go back 300,000 years to meet our earliest human ancestors, and talk to the archaeologists uncovering the untold stories of modern human origins. Bonnie looks at the changing face of one of the earliest Europeans, and at how he is also changing our understanding of race.
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    40 mins
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  • Ep. 2: Fearsome One-Eyed Queens

    Ep. 2: Fearsome One-Eyed Queens
    Dec 19 2019

    Bonnie discovers how differently ancient Greeks conceived of race, and meets the Queens of Kush: warriors, traders and diplomats who ruled the fabulous Kushite kingdom in what is now Sudan. They kept the Roman Empire at bay - and laughed in the face of Augustus Caesar.
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    50 mins
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  • Ep. 3: Magical Blackness

    Ep. 3: Magical Blackness
    Dec 19 2019

    In the bone store at the Museum of London, Bonnie visits Londoners of African descent. Their skeletons tell a new story about Africa and Europe, in which Europe was the continent of starvation, disease and suffering, while Africans grew up healthy and strong. Bonnie discovers the magical power of Medieval blackness - used as a symbol of power in the struggle for world domination, between Christianity and Islam.
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    44 mins
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By Bonnie Greer


When I recorded the first volume of my autobiography, A Parallel Life for Audible last year it was an emotional experience - to feel, from a distance, my own continued and ongoing fight against erasure of memory and therefore of truth. Black History Month is not just about history, it's about how history creates the now. Let's not erase or try to hide our history, let's talk about it. All of it: the good; the bad; the ambiguous; the transcendent. My history is the History of Africa, the History of Europe, the History of America and the History of Britain. I am all of these things. I am on both sides of every story.

Four things have helped me to have a kind of reclamation within myself (although it is an ongoing process): books; art; music; and the two million years of human history that is the British Museum. These things - and others - allow me to hold multiple perspectives; which is the only way, I have found, of being myself. Of being a Black Woman. Of being a Human Being.

Most relevant  
I liked the book, it was a real eye opener for me. my question is what happened in the North of Africa before the trans Atlantic slave trade? I wanted to hear about.

very interesting and informative reading.

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A perfectly paced narrative history which tells us much about the black histories we didn't know, and expands on the black history some of us thought we did.

Brilliant, instructive, illuminating

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Such a compelling journey through black history and I have learnt so much! I wish there was a volume 2!

Absolutely engaging Black Histoy storytelling

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It can be uncomfortable to face a narrative that does not conform to what you may have been taught. But it need not be.
This is a story for everyone. Regardless of whatever identity you want to use.
What Lady Greer is communicating is a story of humanity, and it's complexity.
And as the tagline suggests, nothing is ever black or white.

Enlightening history. From a National Treasure.

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I loved every moment of 'In Search of Black History'. Every story transported me, moved me and taught me. Already looking forward to listening again.

Captivating performance, incredible stories

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Wow. What a journey. Every single episode is a brilliant way of showing Black History. So many fascinating stories, people. I will learn more because Bonnie Greer is just giving you a taste of the history and encourage to think in different way and to look for this what for many of us is not visible because of the way we were raised. Listen and learn.

The journey to

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I felt all emotions listening to Bonnie Greer series
I am ashamed to say I didn't know much about black history but I know that history generally is written by the victors and also by the oppressors
It is a story told with dignity and passion.
Which for me invoked the spirit of Dr Martin Luther King Junior whom I knew about and the life of Pauli Murray whom sadly I knew nothing about.
I will also look at museums in a different light, no longer as a neutral institution and be more critical of the appropriation of artefacts/ culture from other countries
Thank you for this series

Ignorance is no ecxcuse

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It has given me so much information, about my people. We have such a rich heritage and legacy. Our people should embrace the truth about our ancestors and carry on its growth, which will enrich and heal us.

An Eye Opener

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Fantastic series with important stories, narrated with a soothing voice. This is history we should all know. Highly recommended.

Wonderful

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I was lucky enough to grow up in a really multicultural town and moved my family back there when my first baby was born so that they can have similar experiences and make friends from all walks of life. As a third generation Polish immigrant, I enjoy historical documentaries on many subjects and this was no exception.

Bonnie Greer has achieved something in this series that I've never been aware of in any other. She told a fascinating story that she managed to not only make personal, but also shared. Usually, the shared history of the white Europeans and black Africans is one where the whites are the oppressors. Of course this was covered but it wasn't the _only_ part of the shared history.

It was beautifully balanced and Ms Greer gently shared with us the horrors and joys of Black History. She had such great enthusiasm for the story, how it shapes us and how it must continue to shape our futures.

I really enjoyed the BBC documentary 'A History of Black Britain' and there were some shared elements but told in a different way so I didn't feel like I was hearing the same information.

Thank you for a superb series!

One of the best documentaries I've ever heard

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