The Black History Month 2024
30th October 2024
The United Kingdom first celebrated the Black History Month on 1st October 1987, and it was recognised as the African Jubilee which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Caribbean emancipation. This year’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, is very powerful indeed as it emphasises the importance of story telling from the perspective, experience and memory of the Black People. Reclaiming narratives enables to unfold the past in truth and honesty for the benefit of the present to build a better future. Narrative plays a key role as it differs from Story telling by choosing how to tell a story.
The Windrush scandal speaks volumes as it is still grappling to get justice for those affected. Although the Windrush Compensation Scheme has been beneficial, it needs to reach those that are yet unable to claim it. The homelessness category embraced specially by this compensation scheme will hopefully target those in the margins as it says, “Changes made to the Homelessness category, including the removal of the cap, and removal of the requirement to demonstrate physical or mental health impacts due to homelessness. These changes will make sure people are compensated for the full period they were homeless.”
In this juncture, DSN UK endorses its support to reclaiming narratives as we believe that the Dalit Liberation Movement was able to move forward in history by consciously validating and empowering those engaged in Dalit Liberation through Dalit Sahitya (literature) that focuses on the lives, experiences, and the struggles of the Dalit communities to liberate themselves along with those who oppress them based on caste. The Black History Month website rightly observes, “For too long, the history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it.”
DSN UK wants to reiterate that although the Black History Month ends tomorrow – 31st October for this year, our commitment and journey together for freedom continues until everyday racism and casteism is wiped out, until the last person in bondage and discrimination is liberated. Narratives reclaimed will ensure what the Black people want to be share to reclaim not just their narratives but their genuine identity of who they were in history, what are their contributions despite being enslaved and their vision as to why do they want justice. The yearning and hope for reclaiming identities and experiencing life in all its fulness will help us move forward together to realise our dream for a better tomorrow for every human being in this world.
Dr Elizabeth Joy
Director DSN UK
30th October 2024