The Black 18th Century

Documentary exploring the experience of the black population in 18th century Britain. Political upheavals in parts of the British Empire led to the arrival of thousands of black people, many of whom settled in London. Through the works of artists such as Gainsborough, Hogarth and Zoffany, the film reveals how black people inhabited every stratum of British society, from the most privileged to the most severely dispossessed. Featuring interviews with historians Simon Schama and David Dabydeen.