Walk app explores city's black history

Endurance Idowu said the best way she could help Professor Angela Smith was to lend her voice to the project

Academics have created an app to help visitors explore the stories of black people in a city.

Those who follow the guided Sunderland Black History Walk will be given an insight into the city's "very long history" of multiculturalism.

The app evolved in light of "global attention to issues of racial equality highlighted by the murder of George Floyd in 2020".

University of Sunderland professor Angela Smith said: "It inspired us to think more about the history and heritage of black and minoritised people in Sunderland."

She added: "Very little had been written about the city's history in this respect."

Prof Smith and Dr Michael Pearce developed the app as part of Project North Star, an initiative bringing together education experts from around the North East to increase knowledge of the region's black history.

The app offers a guided walk through the city and marks key sites, giving insights into its historic ties to slavery, anti-slavery and anti-racist movements.

With voiceovers by graduates Endurance Idowu and Godstime David, it also includes an illustrated map created by student Sara Heraoua.

'Sites celebrated'

Ms Idowu said working on the project had been "a privilege and an honour".

"In addition to using my voice, I was learning about the Black history of Sunderland, something I wasn’t aware of before," she added.

"I knew Sunderland was becoming a cosmopolitan city, but I never realised its history of diversity ran deeper than what is visible today.

"It's important to know that these historical sites once existed and to recognise the efforts made to help people see beyond skin colour.

"These sites are now being celebrated and it was essential for me to contribute my own little part to the journey that started decades and centuries ago."