Black Convicts

How Slavery Shaped Australia
The story of Australia's Black convicts has been all but erased from our history. In recovering their lives, Santilla Chingaipe offers a fresh understanding of this fatal shore, showing how empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped our nation.

Shortlisted for the 2025 Queensland Literary Awards, The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award

Shortlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize

Readings Best Books of 2024, Non-Fiction

The story of Australia's Black convicts has been all but erased from our history. On the First Fleet of 1788, at least 15 convicts were of African descent. By 1840 the number had risen to almost 500. But although some of these lives were documented and their likenesses hang in places like the National Portrait Gallery, even their descendants are often unaware of their existence. In recovering their lives, Santilla Chingaipe offers a fresh understanding of this fatal shore, showing how empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped the nation.

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