Black Oxford tour returns, celebrating pioneering black scholars via innovative guided tours

A guided bus tour of the city celebrates the little-known stories of the very first Black scholars to study at Oxford University, which is 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 American, 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, as well as places like 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 historically.

She explained: "The tour sets out to correct this falsehood and celebrate the achievements of Black scholars at Oxford. Visibility and representation matter; 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, I 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 offer additional tours this spring and summer.

"We're proud to continue this innovative partnership to help share Oxford's diverse cultural history to a broader 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 can 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 offers hop-on, hop-off bus tours of the city's most famous landmarks. The tours include onboard audio commentary in 14 languages.

For more information and to book a tour, visit the City Sightseeing Oxford website here: https://www.citysightseeingoxford.com/black-oxford/

Pamela has written for BBC History Magazine, the Royal Anthropological Journal, and Oxford University Press. She is a member of the Royal Society of the Arts and the Royal Historical Society and an Alumnus of the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library.