Dr. Jake Richards

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Jake Subryan Richards is a historian specializing in the Atlantic world and global history, with a particular interest in legal history and the history of empires and the African diaspora. His forthcoming book, 'Bonds of Freedom: Liberated Africans End the Slave Trade,' published by Yale University Press in 2025, breaks new ground in the history of slave-trade suppression by narrating the experiences of those 'liberated' from slaving ships and forced into bonded labor within imperial structures. The book offers insights into how men and women navigated anti-slave-trade laws while under authoritarian control, striving to create their own visions of freedom. Richards has contributed to reputable journals such as Past and Present, Comparative Studies in Society and History, and Modern Intellectual History. He is currently undertaking research on African political opposition to the illegal slave trade and the ecological ideas and practices within diasporas in the Americas. As a cocurator of the exhibition 'Black Atlantic: Power, People, Resistance' at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (2023–24), he emphasizes historical methods and storytelling in his teaching and public engagements. He also frequently collaborates with various organizations to consult on historical research related to slavery and emancipation.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

2020-09-01 — Present

London School of Economics and Political Science • London, England

Teaches courses primarily focused on the African diaspora, comparative methods, legal history, and global history.

Awards

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Sir Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History

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Prince Consort & Thirlwall Prize Seeley Medal

Requirements for London School of Economics and Political Science

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a relevant social science discipline
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Academic Purpose
  • Two academic references
  • CV
Specialization Notes

Standard English requirement applies to most programs in Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, and Media.