Black Anglo-Saxons? Who says?

Black Anglo-Saxons appeared in the BBC series, King and Conqueror. Not many, but some. One was Harold’s right-hand man. Another was an anonymous soldier in the shield-wall. Also, Morcar, Earl of Mercia, appeared to be of mixed race. I have said in a previous post that I would comment on this feature of the recent series.

Were Black Anglo-Saxons unlikely?

There is hardly any evidence of trade or other contact between Anglo-Saxon England and Black Africa. There was probably more in Roman times and it resumed in the age of exploration in the 16th century. Some indirect contact may have occurred via the crusades after the Norman Conquest. It is particularly unlikely that Black or mixed-race people would have become noblemen, such as the ruler of Mercia, and pretty unlikely that one would have become Harold’s closest advisor.

What about inclusivity in drama?

Black and Asian people have, understandably, complained in the past that they seldom saw themselves on screen in dramas of all kinds. This restricted opportunities for Black and Asian actors. Some people also argued that children of all ethnic minorities needed to see people like them on screen to help them feel part of society.   Even after producers began correcting that in much contemporary drama, it did not seem to happen so much in historical productions. People have begun correcting this discrepancy and argue that Black and Asian people did arrive in Britain, albeit in small numbers, during the last few centuries.

The cover of The Cowgirl Murders, where Black characters play important roles. They are not anachronisms like Black Anglo-Saxons

Why object to Black Anglo-Saxons?

I am positively in favour of inclusivity in drama, as elsewhere. It is good to see diversity on screen in general. However, I am also in favour of historical accuracy and realism. Is it fair to give Black and Asian children the impression that their ancestors were part of British society all down the ages? The stories of overseas exploration, the slave trade and the British Empire all need telling. Black History Month is valuable, because all children need to know the truth, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. Let us not distort it even for worthy motives.