The Social History Society is dismayed and concerned by proposals at Goldsmiths, University of London, to make further redundancies in the History Department there, including the convenors of the MA Black British History, Dr Kesewa John, and of the MA Queer History, Dr Justin Bengry.  Both programmes are unique: they were the first of their kind in the UK to concentrate on these important subjects, and they remain the only such taught postgraduate programmes in these vital areas of social history.  Both programmes have been highly praised by current and former students for their high quality and specialist knowledge.

Because they are unable to operate without two dedicated staff for each programme, the loss of Dr John and Dr Bengry’s posts at Goldsmiths would render both courses impossible to run, effectively guaranteeing their closure. This would significantly diminish the opportunity for future historians to benefit from this specialist training at a time when the importance of courses such as these is recognised as essential to the future of the discipline and the profession. The Social History Society is particularly concerned by the damaging impact, both now and in the future, of the loss of programmes of historical research such as these that have a strong equalities dimension.

We stand in solidarity with those colleagues at risk and urge Goldsmiths to reconsider their current proposals, and to take action to ensure vital expertise and opportunities are not lost through further damaging cuts to the History Department.