The Black Archives Unveils its Extensive Collection of Black Dutch History in Amsterdam
In March 2017, aligning with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a significant cultural initiative was announced for Amsterdam. The Black Archives, a new cultural archive and exhibition space, was set to launch later that year, promising to become one of the country's largest publicly accessible collections dedicated to Black history in the Netherlands.
This extensive archive brings together over 2,000 books, documents, and artifacts. Co-initiators Mitchell Esajas and Jessica de Abreu highlighted its role in fostering collective awareness, offering a non-Eurocentric view of history, and contributing to the decolonization of the Dutch educational system. The United Nations established the International Day of Remembrance to commemorate the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, an observance that gained deeper meaning in the Netherlands with the archive's launch, especially considering the Dutch involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition.
Exploring the Origins of Amsterdam's Black Archives
The establishment of The Black Archives was a culmination of several factors. Mitchell Esajas explained that the journey began with the New Urban Collective (NUC), a social enterprise founded in 2011 to empower young people from diverse cultural backgrounds in Dutch society.
In 2016, NUC inherited the private book collection of the late sociologist Waldo Heilbron, a prominent figure in the Netherlands for his work on the history and patrimony of slavery. Initially displayed in a library, the collection needed a new home after some months. This move proved to be a fortunate turn, as Jessica de Abreu noted. At their new location, the oldest Surinamese association in the Netherlands, they discovered another substantial collection of forgotten works. Combined, these collections formed what is now one of the largest publicly available repositories of books, documents, and artifacts on Black Dutch history.
A Non-Eurocentric Perspective on Dutch History and Culture
The Black Archives aims to address societal issues from a historical perspective, emphasizing that collective awareness can help current generations understand and accept the diverse roots within Dutch society. Jessica de Abreu underscored that this is achieved by offering a non-Eurocentric ideological view of history, revealing that Dutch Black history encompasses far more than the tragic narrative of the slave trade.
Mitchell Esajas believes that reparations for slavery would be most valuable if invested in funds dedicated to decolonizing the Dutch educational system. He points out that works by scholars from the Global South, such as Philomena Essed, are often overlooked in Dutch universities and libraries, an oversight the archive seeks to remedy. Jessica de Abreu reinforced this, stressing that "core reparations" necessitate a thorough examination of various socioeconomic and political systems in the Netherlands.
The archive also contributes to ongoing discussions surrounding Dutch traditions. The figure of Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), a servant of Sinterklaas (Santa Claus), has faced criticism for perpetuating racialized stereotypes, with some viewing it as an example of Western cultural domination. Mitchell Esajas stated that societal morality should evolve, and maintaining the character of Black Pete demonstrates a lack of historical awareness. Jessica de Abreu added that multiculturalism requires mutual understanding, and the archive serves as a crucial tool for curbing segregation by encouraging all inhabitants of the Netherlands to acknowledge and embrace their individual and collective histories.
To learn more about similar cultural institutions and their impact, explore other museums in the city on Musemap (musemap.art) or discover additional cultural spots. You can also search for specific themes or places that resonate with your interests.
