David Starkey splits with Cambridge over ‘so many damn blacks’ comment

Historian David Starkey has split with Cambridge after he said slavery was not genocide because there are “so many damn blacks” still around.

Fitzwilliam College said it had contacted the academic and broadcaster following his controversial comments and accepted the resignation of his honorary fellowship “with immediate effect”, stressing it will “not tolerate racism”.

In the face of a furious backlash over his “completely unacceptable” comments, the 75-year-old has also been stripped of his visiting professor post at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Starkey made the remarks during an online interview with conservative commentator and Brexit campaigner Darren Grimes for the YouTube channel Reasoned UK.

During the interview, Starkey said: “Slavery was not genocide otherwise there wouldn’t be so many damn blacks in Africa or in Britain, would there?

“An awful lot of them survived and again there’s no point in arguing against globalisation or western civilisation. They are all products of it, we are all products of it.

“The honest teaching of the British Empire is to say quite simply, it is the first key stage of our globalisation.

“It is probably the most important moment in human history and it is still with us.”

He has received widespread criticism over his comments, including from former chancellor Sajid Javid.

“We are the most successful multi-racial democracy in the world and have much to be proud of,” Mr Javid said.

“But David Starkey’s racist comments (‘so many damn blacks’) are a reminder of the appalling views that still exist.”

:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker

The Cambridge college said in a statement: “The master of Fitzwilliam College contacted Dr David Starkey, following his comments.

“The master has accepted Dr David Starkey’s resignation of his honorary fellowship with immediate effect.

“Fitzwilliam prides itself in leading the way in Cambridge in opening access to higher education for underrepresented groups. Our student and academic bodies are diverse and welcoming to all. We do not tolerate racism.

“Although Dr Starkey holds no teaching role at Fitzwilliam, honorary fellows have the same responsibility as all members of our College to uphold our values.”

In a Twitter post, Canterbury Christ Church University said: “We have terminated David Starkey’s position as visiting professor with immediate effect.

“His comments are completely unacceptable and totally go against our university and community values.”

Publisher Harper Collins tweeted: “The views expressed by David Starkey in his recent interview are abhorrent and we unreservedly condemn them. Our last book with the author was in 2010, and we will not be publishing further books with him. We are reviewing his existing backlist in light of his comments and views.”

Starkey has also resigned from the board of the Mary Rose Trust, which oversees the Tudor Mary Rose ship, according to the organisation.

The trust said in a statement that they were “appalled” by his comments, adding: “Mary Rose Trust is a charity that exists for the benefit of everyone and we have zero tolerance for such comments.”

British-Nigerian historian and broadcaster David Olusoga tweeted: “This is truly disgusting. And by the same ridiculous, twisted logic the Holocaust would not be counted as a genocide.”

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman also criticised his comments.

She said: “To suggest a genocide did not take place because some of those who were persecuted survived is dangerous, damaging and completely reprehensible.

“His words are abhorrent and as a historian with a considerable platform and following, David Starkey’s irresponsible and racist views should be widely condemned.”

Grimes has been criticised for not challenging the views and instead nodding along as Starkey continued to speak.

He later released a statement about his interview, saying he “wasn’t engaged enough” in the conversation.

He added: “It goes without saying that Reasoned UK does not support or condone Dr David Starkey’s words.

“I am very new to being the interviewer rather than the interviewee and I should have robustly questioned Dr Starkey about his comments.

“However, whether it’s on the BBC, ITV, Sky News or on YouTube, no interviewer is responsible for the views expressed by their guests.”

(c) Sky News 2020: David Starkey splits with Cambridge over ‘so many damn blacks’ comment