Liam J. Liburd
@liamliburd.bsky.social
Historian who works on Black British history and the history of whiteness and the white supremacist movement in 20th century Britain. Views those of someone living through interesting times.
They used to just emblazon something onto the flag that was more direct.
October 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
They used to just emblazon something onto the flag that was more direct.
I’m convinced that if there’d been a more socially acceptable and less ambiguous symbol of white power, the people putting up these flags would have just used it. You can’t put up a swastika or sunwheel these days so they’ve had to use symbols that are racist in a way that’s plausibly deniable.
October 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I’m convinced that if there’d been a more socially acceptable and less ambiguous symbol of white power, the people putting up these flags would have just used it. You can’t put up a swastika or sunwheel these days so they’ve had to use symbols that are racist in a way that’s plausibly deniable.
The Daily Mail says ‘Hurrah’… for… ‘Peace in Our Time’…
October 10, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The Daily Mail says ‘Hurrah’… for… ‘Peace in Our Time’…
There’s a good line reminiscent of this in his 1939 novel Coming Up for Air.
October 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
There’s a good line reminiscent of this in his 1939 novel Coming Up for Air.
Theres a more specific term for this - “white victimhood”.
September 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Theres a more specific term for this - “white victimhood”.
"Britain's languages of 'race' and nation have been articulated together. The effect of their combination can be registered even where "race" is not overtly referred to, or where it is discussed outside of crude notions of superiority and inferiority." And he's worth quoting some more...
September 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
"Britain's languages of 'race' and nation have been articulated together. The effect of their combination can be registered even where "race" is not overtly referred to, or where it is discussed outside of crude notions of superiority and inferiority." And he's worth quoting some more...
The fruits of a relative’s Facebook profile. So patriotic you can’t remember the design of the flag you’re obsessed with.
August 30, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The fruits of a relative’s Facebook profile. So patriotic you can’t remember the design of the flag you’re obsessed with.
Seen some St George’s Fiery Crosses on my morning run. This is not innocent - there’s no historical precedent of displaying the Cross or the Union Flag outside of sporting events, royal stuff, and maybe govt buildings except by fascists. Fascist involvement in founding this campaign no coincidence.
August 26, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Seen some St George’s Fiery Crosses on my morning run. This is not innocent - there’s no historical precedent of displaying the Cross or the Union Flag outside of sporting events, royal stuff, and maybe govt buildings except by fascists. Fascist involvement in founding this campaign no coincidence.
As I return to my teenage interest in anarchism & as my research turns towards the criminological, worlds collide in an issue of Anarchy I picked up in Skoob Books. Features contributions by Jock Young - later ‘Left Realist’ and one of Gilroy’s adversaries in There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack.
August 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
As I return to my teenage interest in anarchism & as my research turns towards the criminological, worlds collide in an issue of Anarchy I picked up in Skoob Books. Features contributions by Jock Young - later ‘Left Realist’ and one of Gilroy’s adversaries in There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack.
Reading Joseph Fronczak’s article ‘The Fascist Game’ (2018). Can’t help thinking of Musk in this section on the transnational transmission of the fascist salute…
July 2, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reading Joseph Fronczak’s article ‘The Fascist Game’ (2018). Can’t help thinking of Musk in this section on the transnational transmission of the fascist salute…
The People’s Bookshop in Durham city centre is selling our edited collection ‘British Culture After Empire‘ at a knockdown price. In good company with some other interesting titles… 👀 #Durham
June 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The People’s Bookshop in Durham city centre is selling our edited collection ‘British Culture After Empire‘ at a knockdown price. In good company with some other interesting titles… 👀 #Durham
Sorting through a box of my old school exercise books that my Mum held onto and then offloaded onto me. Came across this 😭
May 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Sorting through a box of my old school exercise books that my Mum held onto and then offloaded onto me. Came across this 😭
County Durham: from racist riots to electing racists.
May 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
County Durham: from racist riots to electing racists.
And here’s our abstract…
May 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
And here’s our abstract…
Join us tomorrow at 2pm for our panel at @qmcbs.bsky.social on the history of race and the criminal justice system in modern Britain.
May 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Join us tomorrow at 2pm for our panel at @qmcbs.bsky.social on the history of race and the criminal justice system in modern Britain.
Gilesgate Moor telling Reform to fuck off.
April 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Gilesgate Moor telling Reform to fuck off.
Keep this for reference…
January 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Keep this for reference…
Not sure how many followers I have in NI, but I'm giving a seminar at @qubhistory.bsky.social on 31 January on some of my recent research on race/racism in British prisons during the 1970s. For now here's the cover of my presentation; when I have a link to the event I'll re-share!
January 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Not sure how many followers I have in NI, but I'm giving a seminar at @qubhistory.bsky.social on 31 January on some of my recent research on race/racism in British prisons during the 1970s. For now here's the cover of my presentation; when I have a link to the event I'll re-share!
Here I am being well “woke” in the Christmas instalment of the BBC History Magazine…
November 29, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Here I am being well “woke” in the Christmas instalment of the BBC History Magazine…
COMING SOON: #BlackHistoryMonth talk on Africa, archaeology, and antiquity by doctoral researcher, Rheba Macha. Join us for this lunchtime talk in Durham on Monday 21 October 1-2pm. Tickets free, register here: forms.office.com/e/gVCwP4yJ3Z #BHM2024 #Durham #archaeology
October 11, 2024 at 2:03 PM
COMING SOON: #BlackHistoryMonth talk on Africa, archaeology, and antiquity by doctoral researcher, Rheba Macha. Join us for this lunchtime talk in Durham on Monday 21 October 1-2pm. Tickets free, register here: forms.office.com/e/gVCwP4yJ3Z #BHM2024 #Durham #archaeology
As a bit of a teaser, you'll hear about how an article I found in the newspaper of a British Black Power organisation led me down a rabbit hole into the history of the 'crisis' in British prisons in the latter half of the 20thC
September 30, 2024 at 7:30 PM
As a bit of a teaser, you'll hear about how an article I found in the newspaper of a British Black Power organisation led me down a rabbit hole into the history of the 'crisis' in British prisons in the latter half of the 20thC
Since the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social's conference's final programme is out, I can now engage in some shameless self-promotion. Please come and see/hear my paper 'Incarcerating the Crisis: Prisons, Race, & Fascism in Britain, c. 1970s' at 14:30-16:00 on Monday, 8 July 2024. #SHS2024
July 5, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Since the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social's conference's final programme is out, I can now engage in some shameless self-promotion. Please come and see/hear my paper 'Incarcerating the Crisis: Prisons, Race, & Fascism in Britain, c. 1970s' at 14:30-16:00 on Monday, 8 July 2024. #SHS2024
Returned from conferences & research trips to find my copy of ‘The Truth About Empire’ with essays by several historians (incl. me) challenging modern-day apologia for empire with insights from their research. Pictures of cover + my essay & some of my personal favourite lines.
June 27, 2024 at 11:03 AM
Returned from conferences & research trips to find my copy of ‘The Truth About Empire’ with essays by several historians (incl. me) challenging modern-day apologia for empire with insights from their research. Pictures of cover + my essay & some of my personal favourite lines.
It took me on a journey that ended (so far anyway) with a Home Office file at
the UK National Archives. Particularly hoping there are some historical criminologists/criminological historians in the audience as I’m wading into unfamiliar territory. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (3/3)
the UK National Archives. Particularly hoping there are some historical criminologists/criminological historians in the audience as I’m wading into unfamiliar territory. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (3/3)
June 20, 2024 at 10:08 AM
It took me on a journey that ended (so far anyway) with a Home Office file at
the UK National Archives. Particularly hoping there are some historical criminologists/criminological historians in the audience as I’m wading into unfamiliar territory. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (3/3)
the UK National Archives. Particularly hoping there are some historical criminologists/criminological historians in the audience as I’m wading into unfamiliar territory. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (3/3)
The development of this new research began with an article from the Black Liberation Front’s Grassroots newspaper I looked at during a visit to the George Padmore Institute’s archives. The article reported on NF members working as prison officers. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (2/3)
June 20, 2024 at 10:06 AM
The development of this new research began with an article from the Black Liberation Front’s Grassroots newspaper I looked at during a visit to the George Padmore Institute’s archives. The article reported on NF members working as prison officers. #BATW2024 @batw.bsky.social (2/3)