Black History Month

Afua Hirsch has been a huge part of my education in Black history and systemic racism in the UK. For too long I was ignorant of the prevalence of racism, both structural and casual, in the country I have lived in for over 20 years. Afua was one of the first writers to open my eyes to it through the power of her writing.

To celebrate the start of Black History Month, I wanted to spotlight her upcoming documentary, Enslaved, with Samuel L. Jackson, which will be out in the UK this month and explores the hidden history of the transatlantic slave trade, a story that as Samuel L. Jackson states, was not a story unique to America, but was in fact a “worldwide phenomenon”.

As a white woman born into more privileges than I ever realised, I have committed myself to relearning the history of this country as well as others, because I truly believe confronting the uncomfortable past is the only way we will move forward. Afua’s book ‘Brit(ish)’ taught me so much is ignored in society and schools, and this year seems to be a long overdue step in the right direction for systemic change. Below is a quote from her book – a hybrid of memoir, reportage and social commentary – which stuck with me:

“Belonging is a foundational human need. The confusion I experienced as a mixed-race girl, descended from Jewish and African immigrants in a European country, is no different from those that have gone before. It’s not the muddled inheritance itself that is the problem. There is no such thing as racial purity in any event. It’s the muting of the conversation — the fact that we cannot in Britain cope with exploring and accommodating these identities in a healthy way. Recent years have shown us that threatened identities don’t fade away quietly; they become defensive, and fight back with new confidence, pride and desperation. We have tied ourselves in knots attempting to be a post-racial society without ever truly understanding racialised identities. That failure is capable of turning both our individual and our national heritage from a rich and complex asset into an identity crisis of epic proportions”

As a mother of two beautiful young boys born in London, I hope organisations such as The Black Curriculum can make the vital changes towards balancing the curriculum in the UK. The changes are long overdue and key to make sure the next generation are educated on Black history…our children are our future heros! In the meantime, we must keep having these conversations and keep doing the work.

Image credit: Misan Harriman