Storytelling - An Art of the Anti-Racist

Storytelling sometimes gets a bad reputation.  It is seen as exaggeration, day dreaming or telling lies.  But I believe story telling is more about promoting the painful or joyous parts of an experience rather than exaggeration, about visions of better futures rather than day dreaming, and about transforming a difficult experience into a desire for what it should of, or could have been, rather than telling lies.

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of recording in the world. People used it to educate, to pass down family history, cultural traditions and moral values.  Obviously over the years stories change, interpretations are made according to the culture or politics of the day, sometimes words are changed, replaced or erased. 

There is an interesting challenge to be considered around the journey of stories and who it is that holds centre stage in the telling of stories that reach the masses, which change, replace or erase the words and direction of stories in history and ultimately the story that is told in future generations.  When people of one race (or predominantly one race) hold this power, and we do not challenge this or push against it, we are complicit in the smelly water of generational and institutionalised racism.  Promotion of the voices of others is a requirement of someone who calls themselves anti-racist or anti anything for that matter. It needs to have many positions which are “against” the predominate other.  It is not a neutral or passive position.

Storytelling is a very powerful medium for communicating experiences, ideology, and desires of the past, present and future.  In restorative practice storytelling is central to understanding the experiences of all involved in relationships with each other.  Here are 3 ways you can use story telling within restorative practice in anti-oppressive ways.

1. To get perspective.  Retelling stories and taking different roles in the story enables you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and increases understanding and empathy.
2. To regain control over your own future.  Retelling stories and imagining what you wish had happened enables you to see where you or others could have changed events or reactions to events and encourages a sense of action which can determine a different future. 
3. To refocus on the positive.  You can retell trauma stories inserting positive statements about your resilience and survival so that the focus becomes your triumph not your victimisation.

“How to be an Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi is a beautiful, thoughtfully written book which will raise questions for you and whether you are passive or active in your anti journey.  I enjoyed, and felt uncomfortable hearing his story, in equal parts.  Another great favourite of mine is Chimanda Ngozi Adichie and her TED talk on “The Danger of a Single Story.”  It’s a 20 minute watch and it is again beautiful and uncomfortable in equal parts.   
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I would love to hear your recommendations for more.

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