All Outputs (22)

Windrush reluctance (provocation) (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2023, June). Windrush reluctance (provocation). Presented at Christ Church Windrush Celebration service, Christ Church. Bath

Expressing need to keep politics in the Windrush conversation, some of the unease about the label 'Windrush Generation', and questioning whether it is a history to celebrate, rather than reflect on more critically in the context of colonial exploitat... Read More about Windrush reluctance (provocation).

Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories (2023)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S., & Andrews, P. (in press). Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories. In Legacies of Slave-ownership and Enslavement: Reshaping Memoryscape in Bath and Bristol after the Fall of Colston. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press

This chapter is a transcript of a conversation between Polly Andrews - Learning Officer for Bath Abbey, and Convenor of the Bath & Colonialism Action Group; and Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers – trustee of Fairfield House , Bath, and Professor of Cul... Read More about Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories.

Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House (2023)
Book
Sobers, S. (2023). Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House. Oxon: Routledge

This book is an exploration of everyday life as experienced through the lens of Black British cultural history and creative practice. The structure of Black Everyday Life, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings In The House examines everyday life... Read More about Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House.

Candles (2022)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S. (2022). Candles. In Sway of Shadows Response: Black Men Reminiscing (42 - 43). Taunton: Black Pansophy Books

In this short auto-ethnographic essay, Sobers uses material culture as a doorway into a deeply personal reflection. Focusing on a pair of candles given to him by his late brother, the chapter leads the reader through the complexity of family dynamics... Read More about Candles.

Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK. Presented at OHCHR in-person consultations: Advancing racial justice and equality for Africans and people of African descent in Europe, UN House, Boulevard du Régent 37-40, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

Sobers spoke at a roundtable discussion with 20 human rights advocates from across Europe, at the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), Brussels. Sobers talked about the King Leopold II statue in Brussels, and points of... Read More about Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK.

Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview

University of Liverpool, The Centre for Culture & Everyday Life Presents Small Anthropology, Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: An Overview Shawn-Naphtali Sobers 3pm, Monday 12th December 2022, SoTA library, 19-23 Abercrom... Read More about Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview.

Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context. Presented at Family and Other Ties, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey

In his talk, Shawn explored different dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context. He explored the phenomenon of the photowall, often curated by the mother figure in the house in the 70s and 80s. He also looked at how cherish... Read More about Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context.

Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, November). Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue

The Duldig Annual Lecture on Sculpture was inaugurated in 1986 to commemorate the life and work of the sculptor Karl Duldig and his wife, the artist and inventor Slawa Horowitz-Duldig.  Now in its 36th year, the Duldig Annual Lecture has continued... Read More about Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue.

In conversation with Dr Julius Garvey MD (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Garvey, J. (2022, October). In conversation with Dr Julius Garvey MD

On Friday 21st October, Fairfield House was honoured to have Dr Julius Garvey MD, son of Jamaican national hero and Pan African visionary Marcus Garvey, visited Bath city. Dr Garvey, is a Human rights activist, vascular surgeon and Medical Profes... Read More about In conversation with Dr Julius Garvey MD.

Photography and the representation of Black lives (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, October). Photography and the representation of Black lives

This half-day workshop explored the role of photography in the representation and exploration of Black cultural ideas, from history to the present day. Led by Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers, the session included a lecture in three parts, looking... Read More about Photography and the representation of Black lives.

The Message (2022)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S. (2022). The Message. In C. Leith, & P. Wrigglesworth (Eds.), Left Cultures: A Lexicon Of Stories Past And Present. Bristol: Left Cultures

How listening to 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982, became a life changing class-conscious moment for a 10 year old boy.

In conversation with Reginald D Hunter (2022)
Exhibition / Performance
Sobers, S., & Hunter, R. D. In conversation with Reginald D Hunter. [Glastonbury Festival 2022]. 25 June 2022 - 25 June 2022. (Unpublished)

Comedian Reginald D Hunter talks to Professor Shawn Sobers about race, politics, cancel culture, family, addressing taboos, and faith. Hosted by Glastonbury Festival's legendary Cabaret Stage, in the Theatre & Circus field.

Representing Rastafari and Ethiopian culture in life, creative practice, and research (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, June). Representing Rastafari and Ethiopian culture in life, creative practice, and research. Presented at Ebony Initiative Summer Institute on Spiritual, Religious and Psychological Methodologies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London

Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, June). Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative. Presented at Black Health and the Humanities, MShed and Bristol University

In an arts career spanning 30 years, Shawn has focussed on health and wellbeing in a range of his creative works in various mediums including film, photography, fiction and non-fiction writing, and also as a workshop and events facilitator. Although... Read More about Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative.

Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Barnett, R. (2022, May). Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston. Presented at Museum & Heritage Show 2022, The Olympia, London

The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol in June 2020 made international headlines. Professor Shawn Sobers of the UWE Bristol and ‘We are Bristol History Commission’, and Ray Barnett Head of Collections & Archives at Bristol Museums,... Read More about Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston.

Between the Ears: The Emperor and the Pianola (2022)
Digital Artefact
Sobers, S. (2022). Between the Ears: The Emperor and the Pianola. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015ds7]

Short description: In this captivating Between the Ears, Professor Shawn Sobers uncovers the fascinating story of Emperor Haile Selassie I and his pianola as told through the music of the time, (based on Sobers' original research). Long descrip... Read More about Between the Ears: The Emperor and the Pianola.

Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, March). Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices. Paper presented at Can compassionate education lead the way for equality?, Bath Spa University (Online)

Opening provocation exploring the theme of whether a compassionate led approach to education can lead the way for equality. Acknowledging that it is a shame that the question need be asked at all, looks into ways formal education spaces have become b... Read More about Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices.

The Colston Statue: What Next? ‘We are Bristol’ History Commission - Full Report (2022)
Report
Cole, T., Burch-Brown, J., Sobers, S., Burton, E., Tinknell, E., Costley, N., & Poole, S. (2022). The Colston Statue: What Next? ‘We are Bristol’ History Commission - Full Report. Bristol: Bristol City Council

In the summer of 2021, the ‘We are Bristol’ History Commission consulted with the public about the future of the Colston statue and the Colston plinth. People had a chance to see the statue and learn about its history in a temporary display at the M... Read More about The Colston Statue: What Next? ‘We are Bristol’ History Commission - Full Report.

The Colston Statue: What next? ‘We are Bristol’ History commission - Visual short report (2022)
Report
Cole, T., Birch-Brown, J., Sobers, S., Tinknell, E., Poole, S., Burton, E., & Costley, N. (2022). The Colston Statue: What next? ‘We are Bristol’ History commission - Visual short report. Bristol: Bristol City Council

This version of the report contains images and presents the findings of the research in an accessable format. In the summer of 2021, the ‘We are Bristol’ History Commission consulted with the public about the future of the Colston statue and the C... Read More about The Colston Statue: What next? ‘We are Bristol’ History commission - Visual short report.

The future of visual anthropology in the wake of Black Lives Matter: A dialogue among Shawn Sobers, Deborah Thomas and Sireita Mullings (2021)
Journal Article
Mullings, S., Sobers, S., & Thomas, D. (2021). The future of visual anthropology in the wake of Black Lives Matter: A dialogue among Shawn Sobers, Deborah Thomas and Sireita Mullings. Visual Anthropology Review, 37(2), 401-421. https://doi.org/10.1111/var.12253

As a discipline, anthropology has long been subject to the scrutiny of critical race theorists and to questions of ethical practice with regard to ethnicity and representation. This dialogue features critical Black visual anthropologists discussing t... Read More about The future of visual anthropology in the wake of Black Lives Matter: A dialogue among Shawn Sobers, Deborah Thomas and Sireita Mullings.