Black History Month 2024: reclaiming Narratives

Carnival Day 2023 - Photographer: Adrian Strong

LaToyah McAllister-Jones, Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival, reflects on this year’s Black History Month theme of Reclaiming Narratives. This opinion piece was originally published on Diverse Artists Network.

This year’s Black History Month deeply resonates with the Carnival team; after all, what is Carnival if not the very manifestation of a people reclaiming their narrative?

What makes Carnival so special and sets it apart from the many wonderful festivals and events in our city is its focus on reclaiming our stories, in our own voices. It is art, culture, and heritage with deep purpose, telling stories of resistance, rebellion, and survival across generations.

We celebrate the legacy of our Windrush parents and grandparents who brought these stories with them to the UK, ensuring future generations remain connected to them. Carnival gives us ownership of our narratives, no matter how challenging or contentious they may be at times. While the arrival of the Windrush generation is a joyous occasion for us, it also reminds us of the painful legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and the trauma our communities continue to endure. These stories are not solely African Caribbean history; they represent a shared history within the context of the UK. Though many remain ignorant or attempt to distort these narratives, it is crucial that we protect them.

That said, while Carnival is a city-wide event, its cultural heritage belongs to African Caribbean people. If we are not invested in preserving this heritage, our children and grandchildren stand to lose the most. We are the largest stakeholders in this, and if we don't value our cultural legacy, we cannot expect anyone else to.

Carnival’s current campaign, It Takes a City, is a citywide initiative that speaks to citizens, communities, businesses, and corporations alike. The campaign aims to engage the whole city in a discussion about the event’s sustainability and legacy for generations to come. Everyone loves Carnival and if every one of the 120,000 people who came last year donated £2, it would go a long way in supporting this iconic event to thrive.

Everyone benefits from Carnival, with an estimated £9.2 million generated over the weekend—half of which is spent in the footprint of St Pauls: the gardens, local businesses, and food stalls. The other half spreads across the city, benefiting pubs, clubs, hotels, and restaurants. In this sense, everyone is a stakeholder in St Pauls Carnival.

If you want to learn more about our work or get involved with the It Takes a City campaign, join us at our 1st Annual Carnival Connect community meeting on 30th October at Trinity Centre. Visit Eventbrite to book your place.