Sam Sharpe Lecture 2024

The 2024 Sam Sharpe Lecture will be held on the evening of Thursday 24 October and hosted in partnership with the Centre for Black Theology at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Somerset Road, Edgbaston B15 2QH. The lecture is sponsored by Baptist Insurance.

The lecture will be delivered by Revd Dr Carlton Turner on the subject of ‘Fighting for Freedom, Fighting for Wholeness: Revolutionary Reactions to Colonial Christianity.’ In his lecture, Revd Dr Turner will discuss the need to critically assess Sam Sharpe’s Rebellion in 1830’s Jamaica as both the fight for freedom from plantation slavery and the search for psychological wholeness and identity preservation.

The Sam Sharpe Project was founded to explore and promote the story and legacy of the Jamaican national hero and Baptist Deacon Sam Sharpe. Sam Sharpe’s story is that of Christian liberator of his people, whose actions were motivated by his faith and reading of scripture. He is reported to have said ‘In reading my Bible, I found that the white man had no more right to make a slave of me than I have to make a slave of the white man.’ By engaging in ‘liberation from below’, Sam Sharpe demonstrated that true liberation comes when the oppressed and marginalised participate in their own bid for freedom and justice and not wait to have it granted to them by those who have power and authority. The Sam Sharpe lectures seek to broaden and advance his legacy by exploring subjects in mission, race, class, and injustice.

There are three ticket types available for the Sam Sharpe lecture:

• Lecture with Caribbean Meal – £10 per person. A Caribbean meal between 18:00 and 18:45 at Queen’s Foundation, followed by Lecture at 19:30 and drinks Reception at 21:00.

• Lecture only – £5 per person. Lecture at 19:30 and drinks Reception at 21:00.

• Online Lecture – Free. Joining instructions will be sent nearer the time to those who register to join the livestream

The closing date for booking is Sunday 13 October (unless all places are booked before that date).

Full details and registration HERE.