Black Convicts

‘Remarkable … Black Convicts doesn’t just open our eyes to all we’ve been blind to, it also enlarges, enriches and deepens the complex terrain of Australia’s history.’ * The Age *‘This book is not just a recounting of history – it is an urgent call to acknowledge and confront the complexities of Australia’s past.’ * ArtsHub *‘Vividly brings to life dozens of extraordinary characters.’ * The Australian *‘The defining read of the decade. This is a work of global significance.’ * Meanjin *‘Chingaipe brings a fresh and urgent perspective to bear on Australian history, re-telling many stirring, surprising, captivating moments of encounter or Black experience.’ * The Conversation *

Santilla Chingaipe is a filmmaker, historian and author, whose work explores settler colonialism, slavery, and postcolonial migration in Australia. Chingaipe’s critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary Our African Roots is streaming on SBS On Demand; Black Convicts builds on the research for that, taking it further. The recipient of several awards, she was also recognised at the United Nations as one of the most influential people of African descent in the world in 2019. She is a regular contributor to The Saturday Paper, and served as a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations. Chingaipe is the founder of Behind The Screens, an annual program supported by VicScreen, aimed at increasing the representation of people historically excluded from the Australian film industry. She is based in Melbourne.