A pioneering Black historian whose research has transformed the nation’s understanding of our Black British history has been awarded an honorary degree from The Open University and confessed he is “unashamedly woke” .
A delighted Michael Ohajuru made the comments as he accepted his Doctor of the University award, for all that he has accomplished, at an Open University degree ceremony in London’s Barbican.
Liverpool-born Michael, who was a humanities undergraduate with the OU in 2005 studying art history, has since become a leading expert on depictions of Black African people in the art of Renaissance Europe.
His other achievements since have included being the co-convenor of a long-standing seminar series examining ‘what’s happening in Black British history’.
It brings together historians, heritage professionals, educationalists and policymakers to showcase and support new research into the history of those from African descent in Britain.
He told the graduating students that his OU experience gave him the critical-thinking skills necessary to question established narratives and “envision new and different possibilities and realities”.
He said:
“Today, this is derisively called being woke. The Open University equipped me with tools to embrace being unashamedly woke.
“It prepared me to challenge established narratives and envision those fresh possibilities and realities, embodying what it truly means to be woke in the most positive sense.”
He concluded:
“I urge you to stay woke, to be aware, keep questioning and stay forward thinking.”
The former mobile communications senior executive who turned to academia in retirement, has now become one of Britain’s most influential public historians.
He founded the Image of the Black in London Galleries. This introduces visitors to representations of Black people and the diversity of their lives in the capital’s major collections such as the National Gallery, Tate Gallery, Wallace Collection, and Victoria and Albert Museum.
He has presented his work at leading museums and galleries including the National Archives, British Library and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Michael is the co-author of the forthcoming Guide to Black London, introducing readers to Black history in the capital, and he’s a contributor to the FutureLearn course entitled Black Tudors: The Untold Story.
Picture credit: The Open University
