Black History Month – Reclaiming the narratives

Why “Reclaiming Our Narrative” is important

Lupita Nyong’o – “What colonialism does is cause an identity crisis about one’s own culture.” 

This quote further explains the need for reclaiming narratives. Colonialism not only exploited and oppressed but also systematically erased and misrepresented Black histories and cultures, leading to widespread ignorance and stereotyping, especially in the education system, affecting all aspects of society.

Educational gaps and stereotyping

The lack of comprehensive Black history in schools maintains ignorance and stereotypes. Children grow up without learning about significant Black contributions, leading to internalised racism and biased attitudes. These attitudes bewilder the workplace and create a cycle of ignorance and racism, meaning work environments can become ingrained with preconceived perceptions of people. This leads to what we see today: unconscious bias in hiring or promotion decisions.

Representation and misrepresentation

I aim to highlight the importance of proper representation by spotlighting figures like John Blanke, Mary Prince, and Ottobah Cugoano. Their stories challenge dominant narratives that have often excluded or misrepresented Black experiences.

Historical figures and their stories

John Blanke

In British history, John Blanke was one of the first recorded Black people of African descent. He was also perhaps the first recorded Black man in Britain to petition for a promotion. Blanke was a trumpeter for Henry VII and Henry VIII and is the only Black visual representation in Tudor history. Even during the Tudor era, there was a struggle for recognition and pay equity. Blanke petitioned the King for a higher position, stating his pay was insufficient. Thankfully, the petition was approved, and he received a raise. Although John Blanke may not be well known, his story profoundly resonates with themes relevant to our society today, such as advocating for one’s advancement and oversight perpetuated by racism. His story reminds us to speak up, especially when the evidence speaks for itself.

Mary Prince

Mary Prince, born in Bermuda in 1788, was the first Black woman to publish an autobiography detailing her experiences in slavery. Her book, published in 1831, was highly controversial as it exposed the brutal realities of slavery. Additionally, she was the first woman in Britain to petition Parliament with a bill to free all West Indian enslaved people in the UK, although it was denied. For Mary, her story highlights the lack of protection and empathy for Black people, especially Black women still in today’s society. It inspires many to call to action and is a necessity to support in whatever capacity you can.

Ottobah Cugoano (John Stuart)

Ottobah Cugoano, also known as John Stuart, was Britain’s first Black author to publicly denounce slavery. Abducted into slavery at 13 from Ghana to Grenada and later freed, Cugoano became a vocal abolitionist. He joined the Sons of Africa, Olaudah Equiano and other formerly enslaved Black people who had been educated. They often gave lectures and petitioned Parliament on abolitionist matters. Cugoano published his book, “Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species” in 1787. He died at 33/34 in 1791/1792, and it is unknown how he died or under what conditions. Cugoano’s unknown circumstances surrounding his death perhaps touch on the brutal reality that is still impacting Black people, particularly Black men. His life is a testament to the importance of doing what you can to stand for equity and liberation; maybe through that action, you might inspire others to do so.

These stories are not just of the past; they echo the challenges and triumphs Black individuals continue to experience today. Whether as individuals or organisations, we all have a role in “Reclaiming the Narrative” by acknowledging these histories and using them to inform our actions moving forward.

Reality of current data and statistics

Here are some statistics specifically focusing on Black people within a professional setting in the UK.

Pay gap: 

• Among British-born employees, Black British employees have the most significant pay gap, earning 5.6% less than white colleagues.
• Non-UK-born Blacks had the most significant pay gap at 12%.

Career advancement: 

• Over 60% of Black people said they had been passed over for promotion.
• 50% of Black people feel unable to talk to their line manager about career progression.
• 74% of Black people say career progression is essential to them.

Workplace inequities: 

• Black professionals are 81% more likely than white professionals to say their company is not fair at all or only slightly fair.
• 76% of Black professionals feel they must work harder to advance, compared to 30% of white professionals, 42% of Asian workers, and 52% of mixed-race employees.

Perceptions of pay gap: 

• More than two in five Black staff members have grappled with this disparity in pay while, by contrast, over half (57%) of white workers think there is no ethnicity gap within their organisations, according to research by job insight company Glassdoor.
• Almost six in ten Black employees (57%) believe the solution would be to increase pay transparency.

These statistics reflect ongoing systemic inequities rooted in colonialism and highlight the need for intentional steps towards decolonisation and anti-racism. Once there is an awareness of the data, steps can be taken to improve the level of inclusion.

Voices of Black heritage staff

In the spirit of “Reclaiming the Narrative”, I have asked colleagues of Black heritage to share why this theme is vital to them.

“To me, this year’s Black History Month theme of “Reclaiming Narratives” empowers individuals to share experiences and start conversations. It invites dialogue, particularly from those voices who might otherwise have been overlooked, and challenges the lens through which we currently view Black History (and history as a whole).”

– Olivia Banton, Senior Consultant.

“Black History Month, for me as a Black Caribbean woman, is deeply personal. It honours my ancestors who survived the brutalities of slavery in the Caribbean and still managed to build vibrant communities. It celebrates the strength of my grandparents, who came to Britain with hope, facing racism but laying the foundation for future generations.

This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Narratives,” resonates with me, as it empowers us to tell our own stories of resilience, culture, and identity that have often been overlooked or misrepresented.

Black History Month is a tribute to the Caribbean culture—its music, food, and stories—that shaped who I am. It drives me to continue their fight for recognition, justice, and equality in a country they helped build, reclaiming our narratives and ensuring they are heard, honoured, and celebrated.”

– Megan De Rizzo-Palmer, Assistant Accountant.

“Black History Month has always been incredibly important and celebrated, event in my life and This year’s “Reclaiming the Narrative” theme is poignant for me as unfortunately I lost both my parents in the last year, and this is my first BHM without them. So, I want to reclaim the narrative of what my Caribbean heritage is.

Both my parents are from small islands, Dominica, and Grenada. We are often assumed to be like the well-known Jamaican culture, but this is not true! So here is a little about my two countries.

With a population of 117,207, Grenada is known as the isle of spice and is known for its nutmeg production, which is the symbol of our flag. Grenada has a particular tradition of celebrating the freedom of its people from slavery in our carnival called Jab Jab.

Dominica is known for its waterfalls and lush green forests. People come to Dominica to reconnect with nature. In our community, there are 73,368 people, and there is a high emphasis on education. We speak patois as well.

I’m reclaiming what it is to be from a small island “Likkle but tallawah” as we say.”

– Lorraine Sebastian-Francois, Inclusion & Diversity Consultant.

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Links and references :

• Yaa Asantewaa: The Asante Warrior Queen who fought against British colonial rule – World History Edu
• The Life and Legacy of Lewis Howard Latimer: A Pioneer of Black History and Culture – Black Knowledge
• Queen Nzinga: A Trailblazing African Female Leader | History Hit
• The Life and World of Ignatius Sancho (rutgers.edu)
• A History of Adinkra Symbols (thoughtco.com)
• Exploring Grenada’s Jab Jab Tradition: A Symbol Of Black Expression And Liberation – Essence | Essence
• John Blanke | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)
• Mary Prince: A Life of Resilience and Rebellion – Black History Month 2024
• Mary Prince, the first woman to ever petition a parliament as a slave in 1829 – Face2Face Africa
• Ottabah Cugoano | Slavery and Remembrance