Journeys through the Black Atlantic:

Exploring the political aspirations and achievements of Black Atlantic people and cultures

The Black Atlantic is a network of cultures spanning Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe forged, in the first instance, by the transatlantic slave trade. This timeline records some of the political, intellectual, aesthetic and activist work done in this transnational cultural formation since 1945.

2008

04

Nov

Barack Obama

On Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the first Black President of the United States…

2005

10

Oct

Paris Riots

The Paris Riots occurred after an incident where three North African teens were electrocuted after being chased by police officers in Clichy-sous-Bois…

29

Aug

Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and Southern Mississippi, leaving thousands of people homeless as almost a million homes were…

2003

12

Apr

“Nations enshrine mediocrity as their modus operandi, and create the fertile ground for the rise of tyrants and other base elements of the society, by silently assenting to the dismantling of systems of excellence because they do not immediately benefit one specific ethnic, racial, political, or special-interest group. That, in my humble opinion, is precisely where Nigeria finds itself today!"

- Chinua Achebe, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra -

2001

11

Sep

9/11

9/11 heavily affected the 2000s in North America and the Muslim world. Changes in immigration and travel security meant that more and more people…

1994

07

Apr

Rwandan Genocide

After the assassination of President Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, Hutu forces began murdering Tutsi and moderate Hutu military and political leaders…

1992

29

Apr

LA Riots

On March 3, 1991, Rodney King’s beating at the hands of LAPD Police Officers was captured on film and shared globally. The beating took place after a high speed chase…