A race relations event being held next Monday is to feature a host of local historians, authors and politicians.

The University of Oxford recently acquired a collection of books about the history of race and resistance in Bermuda, and the event is being organised to celebrate the exchange.

Seven Bermudians will give readings from selected books from the newly acquired collection and this will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The event is being organised by Bermudian lawyer and PhD student at Oxford, Alexa Virdi. Ms Virdi is a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Bermuda, and the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities, Race and Resistance Network.

Ms Virdi asked the authors to share with the audience what had been written about race. One speaker, former Progressive Labour Party MP Dale Butler, will read from Choir Number One and Choir Number Two by the late Hilton Hill. Mr Butler said: “It sets the foundation for segregation that existed up until 1959.

Then I will read from the first biography written about Dr EF Gordon to highlight the problems he encountered when he came here regarding race.

“If there is time I will touch on a small publication that sold out called Add a Little White which talked about experiences from the 1970s until today.

“With regards to race relations I commend all groups and organisations who have tackled it and tried to find solutions to breaking down barriers but as the older generation dies off I think the younger ones, who have benefited from integrated schools and mixed marriages, will rarely talk about the issue as they tend not to see things in racial terms but in terms of qualifications.

“Be that as it may, I believe they will find solutions for their generation that will see the races working better together and less separation and less polarisation around political parties.”

Another speaker will be Wendy Davis Johnson who will be reading on behalf of her father David Critchley from his book, Shackles of the Past.

• The race and resistance event will take place in O’Hara House at 1 Bermudiana Road on Monday, August 31, from 6pm to 8pm.

Anyone wishing to attend must register by e-mail at alexa.virdi@pmb.ox.ac.uk.

The public is invited to make donations to the Bermuda Oxford and Cambridge Society either at the event or online at Capital G 4710911602.