How collective memory drives the modern movement for reparatory justice
In short: Beyond the historical facts of enslavement lies a complex struggle over memory. For many, memory is a vital tool to challenge marginalisation and demand justice, often clashing with national policies that treat the colonial past as a mere commodity through practices like dark tourism.
The legacy of enslavement is not merely a matter of historical record; it is a living force that shapes modern identity and citizenship across Europe. Professor Olivette Otele, a specialist in the links between history, memory, and geopolitics, explores how the memory of colonial enslavement influences contemporary social structures. This scholarship examines how the way we remember the past directly impacts how people are included or excluded in modern societies.
In many African contexts, debates are currently unfolding regarding the origins of exclusion in societies that have become stratified following the era of slavery. These discussions focus on the mechanisms used to marginalise people of slave descent. Here, the concept of collective memory becomes a powerful instrument for demanding reparatory justice, serving as a counter-narrative to regional or national policies that attempt to commodify the colonial era.
One such commodification is 'dark tourism,' which can sometimes contradict the lived needs of descendant communities. By studying these memoryscapes, scholars like Otele aim to understand the tension between historical heritage and the active pursuit of restorative justice. This work is essential for understanding how the legacies of European and African empires continue to influence global politics and the legal frameworks of the present day.
Otele's research, which includes work for the Welsh Government Audit on Slavery and Colonialism, highlights the intersection of history and law. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between the historical reality of colonial enslavement and the modern legal and social requirements for addressing its enduring legacies.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Slavery, Memory and Reparations - Olivette Otele
- Also: www.soas.ac.uk — Professor Olivette Otele
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