Richard Smith

Richard Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. His research focuses on the historical experiences of Black and Asian troops in World Wars I and II, exploring themes of race, masculinity, and colonial militarization. He examines how these narratives shape multicultural commemoration in Britain.

Smith’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary cultural memory, addressing topics such as Pan-Africanism, the role of media in empire, and the black presence in Britain (1900-1945). He actively contributes to academic initiatives, including advisory roles for projects like 'Colonial Film: Moving Images of the British Empire' and editorial boards such as the Journal of War & Culture Studies.

His key publications include Jamaican Volunteers in the First World War: Race, Masculinity and the Development of National Consciousness (2004) and numerous chapters on colonial soldiery. Recent work analyzes media representations of West Indian soldiers and their impact on national memory.