Reflections on Truth, Tea, and David Olusoga
May 23, 2025
By Rebbecca Hemmings
Every now and again, you hear someone speak and it lands right in the centre of your soul. That was David Olusoga for me.
I recently had the pleasure of hearing him talk at Birmingham Glee Club on Sunday 18th May, and his words are still lingering like fresh fragrance of cut grass.
He began by mentioning that, for two years, the police advised him to have a bodyguard because of threats on his life. Just take that in for a moment. That’s the cost, sometimes, of simply telling the truth.
He unpacked language, history, and the invisible threads that connect us, even when we don't realise it. One word that really stood out was Blighty. Often used to suggest “Britain against the world”, especially by the far right, it's actually a word of Indian origin. It comes from a Persian and Hindustani root meaning ‘foreign’, and it came to mean ‘British’ during the British Raj. Indian soldiers in the First World War used the word regularly.
David’s point was that so much of what we see as traditionally British is borrowed from other cultures. Often, the origins are forgotten. Or deliberately erased.
Take food, for instance. In 2011, chicken tikka masala became the UK’s most popular dish. We hold up fish and chips as a national favourite, but let’s take a closer look. Potatoes came from Colombia. Fried fish was introduced by Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal. These things aren’t just British. They are global stories.
Then there’s tea. Britons pride themselves on their tea culture. English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Yorkshire Tea. But tea doesn’t grow in the UK. It needs a subtropical climate, like the one found in China, India or Myanmar. And the fine china cups we drink from? Yes, also from China. (And here’s a fact I only just learned: bone china includes real animal bone. Cow bone ash, to be exact. That’s what gives it its strength and translucency.)
History and trade are deeply intertwined. David spoke about Walter Raleigh, who is often credited with bringing potatoes to Britain. This led to a wider point about how histories are often misrepresented. In cities like Bristol, blue plaques mark buildings with terms like “West Indian planter” . Sounds respectable, doesn’t it? But what it actually means is “slave owner” and “West Indian Merchant” translates to “Slave Trader”. These terms have been carefully chosen to make uncomfortable truths more acceptable.
David also reminded us that the liberation of Paris during World War II involved over 100,000 African soldiers from places like Senegal, Niger and Mauritania. Yet in the official stories, it’s the white soldiers who are celebrated. The rest are quietly and deliberately left out.
When people accuse him of trying to make white people feel guilty, David is clear. He says it’s not about guilt. It’s about honesty. That stayed with me.
Someone in the audience raised the idea that Black people are always being cast as victims. David’s reply was perfect. He said we would never call British soldiers “victims” of war. So why is it different when it comes to the experiences of Black people? It's a lazy trope, and we need to move beyond it.
David also shared more uplifting stories. He spoke about the series he created with Stephen Knight called A Thousand Blows, which tells the story of Jamaican boxer Hezikiah Moscow. He arrived in Victorian England hoping to become a lion tamer, but instead became a boxer. The story is both painful and powerful, and it reflects the challenges so many immigrants faced at the time.
When I asked how he looks after himself in the face of threats and criticism, David said something beautiful. He finds joy in events like the one I attended, where he's reminded that there are so many people who want to learn, engage, and create change. That reminded me, too, that there are lots of people of all races who care and want to create a fairer world.
There was also a glimmer of hope when he spoke about the school curriculum. More teachers want to teach inclusive histories. More books are available. And while there are still gaps, there’s progress.
David name-checked important historians like Timothy Snyder and Jason Stanley. I’ve added them to my podcast listening list, though I’m also keen to hear from women historians too, so if you have any recommendations, do let me know.
One final point that really resonated with me was how David handles being labelled as the “angry Black man”. He said that we don’t have the luxury of being angry. Instead, he focuses on excellence. He said, Let’s do the work at the highest possible standard so that people have no choice but to listen. This one has me conflicted. This idea of excellence is great at times, but at other times it can lead to us putting a lot of unnecessary pressure to be superhuman. This can go against our need to stay well and balanced.
But that tiny point aside, all of this is what makes David Olusoga one of the most important historians of our time. It’s not just what he says. It’s how he says it. With clarity, care and an unwavering commitment to the truth.
It reminded me why I do what I do.
Until next time,
Rebbecca
Talking about racism can seem difficult and uncomfortable. This CPD accredited course provides a foundational education on racism to help to increase racial literacy which includes building confidence to speak about and deal with issues concerning race. It provides a language through which meaningful conversation can take place (particularly in the workplace).
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