Clean Break's Associate Artistic Director Lakesha Arie-Angelo shares her picks from stage and screen for Black History Month
The theme for Black History Month 2024 is 'Reclaiming Narratives'. At Clean Break we love a Maya Angelou quote, so in true CB fashion, perhaps a good place to start would be this: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Stories shape how we think of ourselves as a human race, they enable us to reflect on how we have been in the past and to imagine new possibilities. Where would we be without the ability to share our stories?
For those within the African diaspora, there is an inner knowing that our stories have been shared for a millennia, spoken on the tongues of elders passing on wisdom to their young under ancient baobab trees. Whispered over fires between warriors and sung through spirituals in fields.
No matter the circumstances, Black communities have created ways to share their stories with each other. Yet, for generations, the lives and stories of Black communities across the world have been misrepresented, appropriated, ignored and weaponised by Eurocentrism. It is as important now to claim our stories as it was back when the concept of race, as we know it, was developed in the 1500s to justify racism and chattel slavery.
There have been many brilliant Black British writers and creators of stories, from Phillis Wheatley to Malorie Blackman who have been rightly acknowledged and celebrated for challenging and reclaiming narratives amongst the countless stories yet to be told.
To honour this year's Black History Month’s proposal of ‘showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage’, here are some great works of art, stories, from near and far, of stage and screen, that have contributed a boundless amount to the canon of stories from the diaspora.
By Rapman, Directed by Rap Man and Sebastian Thiel.
Earlier this year, we saw the biggest mainstream Black British superhero TV Series, Supacell. Set in South London, the protagonists are united by their connection to Sickle Cell disease, a blood disorder that affects mainly individuals of African descent. The Netflix hit took on dystopian drama and sci-fi, and grounded it in reality, in turn, creating a piece of work that had universal appeal and showcased a side to a South London community, not often seen on screen.
By Michaela Coel
During lockdown 2020, Michaela Coel had many of us hooked to her new TV show, since her debut hit Chewing Gum. Based loosely on a real life experience Coel had, I May Destroy You tells the story of Arabella (also played by Coel), a struggling writer trying to make sense of and recover from her experience of rape. The BAFTA, EMMY and NAACP award winning series brought to the forefront conversations of consent which often go untold in the public domain. It has been documented that Coel turned down a $1million Netflix deal in order to retain ownership over her story and co-executive produce the show herself. Michaela embodying what it means to create and protect your story.
By Mojisola Adebayo
In 2023, Mojisola Adebayo gifted us a story of ‘Mrs’, an older woman in search of her orgasm. The dynamic theatre show incorporated live DJ’ing, projected animation and African mythology and folklore to explore Black queerness amongst older generations in a celebratory and empowering way. Led by a predominately Black creative team, this story demonstrated how the lives of an intersection of a community can be told with beauty, grace and joy.
By Fehinti Balogun
Can I Live is a masterclass in digital performance that incorporates spoken word, theatre, music and animation. Under the direction of Daniel Bailey, Balogun uses his performance dexterity to discuss how the climate crisis impacts the Black diaspora. Amongst the harrowing statistics and factual information that is creatively shared, Can I Live speaks to the privilege of climate activism interspliced with the impact of the global crisis on Black communities across the world. A complex topic made accessible, that challenges many perceptions and narratives within environmental justice.
By Ryan Calais Cameron
When we think of Mccarthyism or the ‘Red Scare’ in 1950’s America, we might think of famous Hollywood actors who were blacklisted such as Charlie Chaplin and Langston Hughes or The Crucible by Arthur Miller, documented to be a metaphor for Mccarthyism. Ryan Calais- Cameron, writer of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue gets too Heavy and Typical took it upon himself to dramatise a moment in history when Sidney Poitier was being interrogated for being a communist. This imagining chronicles a side of a historical figure that is complex and has, until now, been quietened. Not often have we been afforded the insight into an individual's experience of being in the centre of such a big moment of American history, especially that of an African American told by a Black British playwright. Calais Cameron struck gold when he penned the laser sharp, edge-of-your-seat drama.
By Issa Rae
Emmy and Golden Globe winning TV show Insecure set pace for comedy series that have followed since it came to end after five seasons in 2021. Creator, writer and Exec Producer Issa Rae made her fame after developing a YouTube series Awkward Black Girl and was later picked up by HBO to build the idea, later becoming cultural hit, Insecure. The series follows Issa Dee, awkward African American woman, as she steps into her thirties and navigates work, friendships and romantic relationships. Although a simple premise, Rae cites the intention to convey a story of an everyday Black woman in America that steers away from the ‘hood narrative’ often depicted in American storytelling. Insecure has done for the Black folk in their 20s and 30s what Sex and the City did for women in the 1990’s.
A documentary about Lady Unchained, dir. Tracy Kiryango
It would be remiss not to mention a documentary featured in Clean Break’s online Film Festival 2024. This moving and insightful documentary follows Brenda aka Lady Unchained as she discusses her journey from being imprisoned and finding her voice through poetry whilst serving her sentence, to setting up her own spoken word event Unchained Nights, where others who have experienced the criminal justice system can try out their spoken word skills. The short film puts focus on individuals who aren’t often given a platform. The documentary can be found on the Clean Break Knowledge Hub until 6 October 2024.
An adaptation of biography On Her Own Ground by A’leia Bundles
This mini-series dramatizes the story of Madam C.J. Walker, known to be the first ‘self made’ African American millionaire, who was a Black hair care pioneer and philanthropist. Also mentioned within the series was Walker’s competitor Annie Malone, another afro hair care entrepreneur. The Netflix series gave a platform to important leaders in the cosmetic industry within history.
By Adjani Salmon
There are many narratives about young creatives trying to break into their respective industry whilst stuck in a dead-end job they despise. What makes Dreaming Whilst Black unique is it’s comical and painfully accurate depiction of racism within the workplace in contemporary London. This part-autobiographical offering from Adjani Salmon highlights the inequity within the film industry and challenges what it means to be a success as an artist.
By Travis Alabanza
When thinking about trans rights and activism, the mind doesn’t tend to think of a live cooking show, however Alabanza manages to tackle both. Their debut show explores a real-life experience that Travis had in 2016 where they were verbally and physically assaulted on public transport, which involved a burger. Travis takes the audience through that experience whilst teaching the audience how to make a good burger. This cutting and witty show gives voice to individuals who have been overlooked, and interrogates how society can be better allies to Black and Brown gender queer and trans communities.
That concludes some top picks of stage and screen that showcase unsung heroes, complex stories and re-write narratives. We have seen within recent decades Black artists take ownership of their stories and how they are shared and celebrated; there are many more still to be discovered.
As a call to action from writer and activist, Cleo Wade "The time is always right to reclaim your narrative.” So, we must continue to do so, loudly and proudly.
