By Joshua Robinson – 

Be prepared to listen to Professor Audrey Osler as she draws on stories from her mixed-heritage family to explore ideas around migration, identity, and belonging on Saturday 20th April at 2 pm. This event will be held at Small Seeds, Castlegate, Huddersfield.

For people of colour the questions in the title of Professor Audrey Osler’s new book: “Where Are You From? No, Where Are You Really From?” often implies more than simple curiosity, with the question often containing connotations of political questions regarding identity since the assumption (either ignorant or malicious) is that to be British and to belong an individual must be white. 

Whether or not people can trace their families from beyond Britain, British people deserve a better understanding of our shared past, and opportunities to explore and recognise the complexities and contractions of empire.

Careless or wilful amnesia has allowed the British migration narrative to begin in the mid-20th century, with migrants from India, Pakistan, and the Caribbean forming the foundation of present-day multicultural Britain. A racist fixation amongst some modern Britons means that they imagine that people of colour arrived after the Second World War, without any link to the country, to exploit the British welfare state and British hospitality.

Audrey Osler says: “The stories I tell here reveal as much about Britain as they do about the countries of the British Empire. This is not just my history, it elucidates the largely untold history of a nation and its citizens, both people of colour and white.” 

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown praises the book as: “Lovely, perceptive and timely… weaving the threads of colonialism, migration, mixed-race relationships and other life experiences into the tapestry of Britishness today, it is wonderful.”

Audrey will be interviewed by the poet and playwright Chérie Taylor Battiste at the event. 

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday 20th April  
• Time: 2 pm – 3 pm
• Venue: Small Seeds, Castlegate (New Street junction), HD1 2UD 
• Tickets: £5, free for University of Huddersfield staff and students & essential carers, Online ticket: £2
• Age guidance: 16+

Book tickets here: https://www.huddlitfest.org.uk/event/where-are-you-from/. This is a hybrid event, offering both in-person and online attendance options. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable journey of discovery!

About Professor Audrey Osler:

Audrey Osler is Professor Emerita of Citizenship and Human Rights Education at the University of Leeds. She is widely known for her research on teachers’ lives and careers, children’s rights, and racial justice. She has worked as an educator in many countries, predominantly in Europe, East Asia, and North America.

Audrey Osler has acted as an expert advisor to the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and various national governments. Her books have been translated into many languages, including Japanese and Chinese. 

Huddersfield Literature Festival (HLF) is an award-winning two-week Festival held annually in the spring. A blended Festival of around 70 digital, outdoor, and venue-based events held online and at accessible spaces in Huddersfield, HuddLitFest champions accessibility, diversity, and under-represented groups.

Showcasing emerging writers and artists alongside major names, the Festival offers a diverse programme of author talks, workshops, discussion topics, performance poetry, multi-arts performances, wellbeing projects, events for young people, and family-friendly events. Click here or on the logo below to check out the latest updates from the festival on our dedicated page!