I have been thinking about the Jews, Muslims culture etc... They have stories of old and history to tell their young. What do we tell our young if we are to recreate a positive past which leads to the future? How do we pose historical events to our children, which are complete (large gap about how/ why we became slaves) as possible but in line with our experiences?

Hi Khara

I write about this briefly in my book in the Chapter "Clipped Wings Can Fly Again". In my own life I have chosen to see 'the black experience' as part of a wider human narrative with its own inherent challenges. The question is: Am I able to meet these challenges and transcend them as the descendant of enslaved Africans? Or will I allow them to determine my life? This is one way of sharing our particular story with our children while simultaneously letting them know that they might be the one to end the 'captivity' of their people.

Also, please note: I never refer to myself as the descendant of 'slaves' but as the descendant of 'enslaved Africans'. I think it matters HOW you share our story with our young. Our ancestors were not born slaves! They were SOCIALISED into slavery by another group. In just the same way we were socialised into the institution of slavery, just so we can be resocialised out of it.

The other thing to note is that the two groups you mention actively work with these issues whereas descendants of enslaved Africans have not done this to date because of being unconsciously assimilated into British culture.

The point is we can develop a new vision for ourselves and so tell new stories based on our new conception of ourselves.