Posted on: 1 October 2024
Sheila Nursimhulu- Co-chair BAME Staff Network at CNWL writes about Black History Month and why it's so important.
The theme underlines the importance of controlling one’s own narrative, resisting erasure, and reclaiming identity, dignity, and history in the face of long-standing systemic oppression.
Expanding on the "Reclaiming Narratives" theme for Black History Month 2024 offers a broader and more nuanced understanding of its significance. It encourages the active reshaping of these stories by centering the voices, perspectives, and truths of Black people themselves in all aspects of life.
Historically, Black stories have been filtered, misrepresented, or completely erased. The narrative of slavery, colonisation, civil rights, and Black contributions to society has often been framed from a Eurocentric or white-dominated perspective."Reclaiming Narratives" is about rediscovering, recovering, retelling and promoting overlooked or misrepresented moments in Black history from an authentic perspective and that these are being told accurately. Through the process of historical reclamation, by challenging traditional history, this theme encourages the deconstruction of these biases, bringing to the forefront the voices of those who lived through and shaped these events.
This year’s Black History Month theme also offers us an opportunity to revisit key Black historical figures who had often been simplified or romanticised and focused only on a narrow part of their activism or achievements. "Reclaiming Narratives" encourages a deeper exploration of figures like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and others, highlighting their complexities and the fullness of their contributions beyond mainstream portrayals.
This year’s theme is also a call to uncover hidden histories by highlighting lesser-known stories - stories of local leaders, unsung heroes, Black women, LGBTQ+ activists, and community builders whose contributions have been overlooked. It encourages the amplification of voices that have been marginalised even within Black history itself.
The importance of cultural reclamation by celebrating Black culture, art, and traditions in their true form, unfiltered by external expectations or stereotypes in owning one’s black identity cannot be overlooked. Black communities have rich oral traditions, from African folktales to modern-day spoken word poetry. This theme honours those traditions and encourages their continuation, while also challenging how Black vernacular, dialects, and slang are often stigmatised in broader society. In music, literature, dance, and visual arts, Black culture has often been appropriated or co-opted. "Reclaiming Narratives" seeks to return ownership of these cultural expressions to Black creators, ensuring their voices, creativity, and experiences are at the center of the conversation.
It is also a call to confidently challenge and resist harmful stereotypes fuelled by media representations of Black people. The theme demands a reshaping of how Black people are depicted, emphasising authentic, multifaceted portrayals that reflect the diversity and richness of Black life and culture, encouraging personal reclamation by encouraging individuals to tell their own stories, and fostering empowerment and self-determination in how Black people are represented. This also includes reinforcing one’s identity and representation by rejecting imposed and distorted definitions of Blackness controlled by external gatekeepers. It encourages individuals to embrace all aspects of their identity, whether related to skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, or class, without conforming to societal expectations.
A very important aspect of this year’s theme is healing, empowerment, and mental and emotional liberation through the unlearning of internalised oppression and reclaiming self-worth, dignity, and mental health, which have often been neglected due to the pressures of systemic racism and oppression.
The theme also advocates for a reclaiming of spaces and institutions through the educational curriculum in supporting the transformation of how Black history is taught in schools. A shift from the limited focus on slavery and the Civil Rights Movement to one that promotes a more inclusive curriculum that celebrates African civilisations, Black intellectual thought, resistance movements, and diasporic connections is key in creating a shift in long-held beliefs. Through education and empowerment, young people are urged to become storytellers of their generation, shaping the future narratives of their communities through activism, education, and innovation.
"Reclaiming Narratives" has a global, pan-African dimension attached to it. It extends beyond American Black history to embrace the experiences of the entire African diaspora. This includes exploring the stories of Africans in the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and beyond, recognising the shared histories and struggles across different regions. The theme encourages a reflection on global Black solidarity, including movements like Pan-Africanism, which advocate for unity and empowerment of people of African descent worldwide. It also highlights the importance of global narratives that speak to shared histories of colonialism, resistance, and cultural renaissance. The ongoing struggle of the people of the Chagos Islands is one that we should all be aware of and take an interest in – The Telegraph 1st September 2024, “The Chagos Islands are rightly British. Labour should defend Anglo-American interests robustly, not pander to the global post-colonial guilt industry”
To conclude, "Reclaiming Narratives" is not just about reflecting on the past, but it is about actively shaping the present and future. It’s a powerful call to action for Black individuals, communities, and allies to challenge existing narratives, create space for authentic stories, and ensure that Black voices are at the forefront of their own representation. By doing so, this theme is imperative in fostering greater understanding, unity, and empowerment for generations to come.