News item | 11-12-2023 | 07:00
More conversations between people and awareness about our shared past. With that aim in mind, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is launching the online campaign ‘History, all of us’ today. This campaign focuses on people’s personal stories about the past of slavery and its impact on the present. Singer Shirma Rouse and filmmaker Safi Graauw (Koeriers, KRO-NCRV) kick off by discussing their family history and the importance of commemoration. More duos will tell their stories in the near future. Sharing these stories is part of the Commemorative Year of the History of Slavery, which started on July 1 with an official apology for the Dutch history of slavery by the King on behalf of the government. During this Remembrance Year, extra attention is paid to the history of slavery throughout the kingdom. A very painful, important and until recently underexposed part of our shared history.
Campaign with stories
The campaign ‘History, of all of us’ consists of six conversations, focusing on the personal experiences of famous storytellers. The campaign takes place entirely online.
Shirma Rouse says: “I want to have this conversation because it gives the new generation insight into all sides of history. In this way I want to increase knowledge about this subject, but also continue to discuss the history of slavery and its impact. I hope that through these conversations we can listen to each other and begin to give history a place in society.” Safi Graauw adds: “I hope that I have been able to add new perspectives to the stories about the slavery past that we already know. Stories that can be a starting point for conversation and reconciliation.”
Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf (Education, Culture and Science) says: “We have known the power of stories since the beginning of humanity. I know from my own experience that many people are open to conversations about our shared past, and also how difficult it is sometimes. is to find the right words for that. That can be a barrier. My hope is that with these personal stories, told from different perspectives, we can lower that barrier and ensure connection. Now that is perhaps even more important than ever.”
More knowledge is important for a large group of people
There are major differences between Dutch people and their knowledge of the history of slavery. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science commissioned research into this earlier this year. A representative survey of more than a thousand Dutch people showed that between sixty and eighty percent of Dutch people, depending on their age, think it is important that more attention is paid to our shared history. About half of those interviewed indicated that they thought it was important or very important that attention was paid to the history of slavery. While on average only one in five respondents indicated that they considered their own knowledge about this to be good or very good.
Commemoration year for the history of slavery
Numerous activities are taking place throughout the kingdom to commemorate the past of slavery and to increase knowledge and awareness about it. The government has made subsidy schemes available to facilitate cultural, social and educational activities within society. Consider, for example, theater performances, exhibitions or books on this theme. Specific to the campaign with stories, other makers will also have their say in the near future. For example, Hesdy Lonswijk (director), Carmen Felix (writer), George Adegite (illustrator), Lucelle Comvalius (teacher), Lukas Eleuwarin (fashion designer) and Jill Mathon (writer) talk about the slavery past from their perspective. The stories are shared on OCW-tales.nl and the ministry’s social media channels. With this Commemoration Year, the national government hopes to contribute to the continued increase of knowledge and connection in society and calls on everyone to share their own stories about our shared history via [email protected].