The Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice at Hofstra University

This summer my research took me across continents and back in time as I explored crucial locations and occasions of Black history and the diaspora in England, Scotland, and Ghana. It started in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, England. There exactly 80 years ago during World War 2, when the US military was segregated, a troop of Black G. I.s were sent to this small town, Bamber Bridge. There they were welcomed by the locals, spent time in a 16th century pub, and all went well until a white US troop was stationed nearby. The resulting violent altercation, referred to by some as the Battle of Bamber Bridge, resulted in one Black G. I. being killed and eight others wounded. You can read about this event here: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1183045605/black-army-soldiers-england-wwii-battle On June 23 and 24, 80 years exactly, I was at Bamber Bridge for the conference at the University of Central Lancashire and in the streets of this town for the commemoration. Here I am with Clinton Smit