Lecture - The Story of William Dorsey Swann

Monday 22 February 2021, 6pm - 7pm

Location: Online

Step into the world of William Dorsey Swann, an African American man born into slavery who became the world's first self-described "drag queen", as told by the award-winning journalist and author of the forthcoming “House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens – and Changed the World” who discovered his story; Channing Gerard Joseph (he/him or she/her). A special zoom talk as part of LGBTQ+ History Month.

Channing Joseph 

An award-winning journalist and lecturer at University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Joseph was born into a family of New Orleans jazz musicians and is a “proud descendant of the enslaved people who built American and gave it soul”

With expertise in journalism; Joseph has often been at the forefront of breaking news; from WIKI Leaks to the war in Afghanistan and their research specialises in narrative nonfiction; African-American history, literature, and genealogy; early LGBTQ history; diversity, inclusion, and access in education and the workplace. 

“House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens – and Changed the World” will be published this year by Picador (Macmillian). 

This virtual event is hosted in collaboration with Liverpool Guild of Students, Aston SU, Liverpool Hope SU, Kings College London and the University of Bournemouth SU and is open to all students.