Black History Month-Reclaiming the Narrative: Black girls have Dads Too

Ironically, this year’s Black History Month theme is "Reclaiming the Narrative," which implies that someone else is controlling the story.Who do you think was controlling the narrative here? It’s almost as if we have to wrestle the power of storytelling back into our hands. Speaking of reclaiming narratives, did anyone catch the recent HEINZ advert on the London tube? If you did, you might have noticed that it’s sparked some controversy

I am trying to imagine Who approved that advert, and what exactly was the thought process behind it? What’s their identity, ?and power. I can’t help but ask, whose narrative was that supposed to represent? Because in the midst of all the glossy advertising, something glaring was left out. Also what is often not considered is the cultural power

The advert, which shows a Black girl and her mother, has a subtle yet glaring omission: the presence of a father. Yes, Black girls have fathers too! This seemingly small oversight may be brushed off as insignificant, but it speaks to a larger issue—one of representation and the unconscious biases that shape what we see in the media today

Claiming the Narrative

I get it, people will interpret the advert differently. Some might say, “Oh, it’s not that deep,” or, “It’s just an advert, don’t overthink it.” “ It’s not racist “ “it is not meant to be offensive “ “you are overreacting “But when we unpack the layers, there’s more going on here than meets the eye. It’s not just about an absent father in an advert. It’s about the narratives we constantly see (or don’t see), and the subtle cultural nuance about what the advert represents and the reinforcing of certain ?stereotypes.

What this highlights is the urgent need for diverse representation at every level of decision-making, especially in advertising. If there had been a more inclusive team analysing this advert, perhaps someone would have pointed out this omission before it hit the public eye.

Sometimes, it’s the things left unsaid or unseen that carry the most weight. The unconscious choices, the “small” details—those are the things that can perpetuate stereotypes without anyone even noticing. They are insidious and fleeting and difficult to pinpoint.How are you helping to support reclaiming positive narratives and who's stories are you telling positively in your organisation ?

?