Celebrating Black Geographers: Spotlight on Prof James Esson

As part of our Black History Month celebrations at York St John University, we are proud to showcase the voices and contributions of Black geographers who are shaping the discipline in powerful and transformative ways. Geography has long been a tool for understanding the world, but it is through diverse perspectives that the field truly grows in depth, relevance, and impact. We are honoured to feature Prof James Esson, a geographer whose work spans decolonial scholarship, anti-racist pedagogy, African migration, and more. Through his research, writing, and teaching, Prof Esson exemplifies a commitment to critical and collaborative geography that pushes boundaries and asks important questions about justice, space, and identity. In the interview below, Prof Esson reflects on the inspiration behind his journey into geography, the academic work he holds most meaningful, and his advice to aspiring geographers—particularly those navigating the field as Black scholars. His insights offer both a celebration of Black intellectual life and a reminder that geography, as a discipline, is richer when it reflects a broader range of experiences and perspectives.

 

Read on to learn more about  James Esson and his vision for geography.

 

This is an easy question to answer: my secondary school teacher, Mrs Yamin. She was a remarkable educator who genuinely changed the course of my life. When you needed pushing, she found ways to challenge you; when you lacked confidence, she knew how to support you; and when a topic didn’t spark your interest, she made it engaging. Looking back, I can also see how she quietly introduced questions of social justice and pushed back against problematic framings of people and places, something I did not fully appreciate at the time. I would not have continued studying geography at GCSE and beyond without her influence.

 

My publications are a like my children; I value them all for different reasons and can’t say I am more proud of one than another. Each reflects a moment in my career and, while I might go back and tweak some if I could, they are special in their own right. Based on feedback from colleagues and students, the pieces that seem to resonate most are Gaza: a decolonial geography with Zena Agha, Mikko Joronen and Mark Griffiths; Anti-Racist Learning and Teaching in British Geography with Angela Last; Boys are Tired! with Ebenezer Amankwaa and Peter Mensah; and African Football Migration with Paul Darby and Christian Ungruhe. These publications are a mix of short commentaries, journal articles and a book, but I think what they have in common is a commitment to critical and collaborative scholarship. 

 

My advice is to follow your interests and passions. From speaking to many of my Black students, I know they often feel pressure to focus not only on human geography but also on topics of race and racism. If that is your passion, then pursue it wholeheartedly. But it is important to remember that it is not the only path. For Black geographers, race and racism cannot be the sole start and end point of intellectual enquiry and curiosity. Black life is shaped by these structures, but it is not defined only by them. What excites me about the potential of Black geographies is how it can open up more holistic and expansive forms of geographical enquiry into Black life. I have also been encouraged to see more Black environmental scientists and physical geographers on undergraduate programmes. I hope this is a sign of things to come, and if the natural sciences are your passion, I would urge you to follow it through.