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

Five Bermudian authors will give readings from selected books from the newly acquired collection, followed by a question and answer session.

The event, being held at the end of the month, is being organised by Bermudian lawyer and PhD student at the world-class university, 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.

The network was launched in January 2013 to bring together researchers in the fields of history and literature, as well as the culture of anti-racist movements in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Ms Virdi has already hosted a Bermuda-themed event at Oxford — a screening of the civil rights documentary When Voices Rise, by the late film-maker Errol Williams.

The film tells the story of the Progressive Group and other key players in the drive to desegregate Bermuda’s theatres, restaurants and hotels.

Professor Stephen Tuck described Ms Virdi’s screening as “an excellent opportunity for the students to discuss issues of democracy and justice”.

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.

Contributions will go towards Bermuda and Caribbean panel speakers on issues of race and resistance, expanding Oxford’s Caribbean history library collection, and establishing an online resource with a focus on the history of Bermuda and the Caribbean.