“My view as a historian is that the empire was an extractive, exploitat...” — David Olusoga Quote

“My view as a historian is that the empire was an extractive, exploitative, racist and violent institution and that the history of empire is one we need to confront and come to terms with, rather than celebrate.”

“The history of the British empire, the chapter of our national story that would have explained to my classmates why a child born in Nigeria was sat among them, was similarly missing from the curriculum.”

“Even the building of a second British empire in the 19th century never fully healed the wound of losing America, and the end of Britain's imperial prestige after the second world war has cut deeper.”

“For black and Asian people of my generation, the England team and the cross of St George were once ingredients in a toxic broth. For decades, a minority of England fans brought the nation and the national team into disrepute, bringing violence both to foreign streets and immigrant communities at home.”

“I am as much British, white and working class, my mother's background, as I am black and Nigerian, my father's heritage.”

“Hubert Humphrey talks so fast that listening to him is like trying to read Playboy magazine with your wife turning the pages.”

“Buildings are storytellers. They teach us about our history, good and bad. They tell stories about people.”

“We talk about these legendary fighters, talk about how they had hundred-something fights, hundred-something victories... but when you look at the history books, I still beat more world champions than any fighter in history.”

“It is not I who have been consigned to the bedroom of history.”

“Being a woman has always been a powerful thing, where history has sometimes dictated otherwise, but I believe that a woman can be compassionate, sensitive, soft, kind.”

“It is possible to read the history of this country as one long struggle to extend the liberties established in our Constitution to everyone in America.”