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What is a Decolonized Story? Here Are 3 Characteristics

What is a Decolonized Story? Here Are 3 Characteristics

We hear all the time how the episodes in our Untold Stories series are some of everyone’s favorites — and we totally agree!

Part of what makes our Untold Stories episodes so impactful is the fact that they focus on telling the events through decolonized stories. 

So what is a decolonized story? Here’s an explanation with the help of our friend Alexandria Scott from Ditto Kids Magazine!

Decolonized stories center Black and brown voices.

So much of history has been told through the eyes of white people, but decolonized stories tell the story through the perspective of BIPOC voices.

“It’s beneficial to Black and brown kids … to just have that foundational education that’s going to affirm their self-love and self-esteem, and they’re going to get that by hearing decolonized stories,” Alexandria said. “… Children need those stories, and they need to be able to see themselves in greatness which exists.”

Decolonized stories focus on more than a deficit mindset.

Alexandria said there should be as much effort put into talking about the heroes and  successes in Black and brown history as is given to talking about the hard things like civil rights and slavery.

“Whether it’s at school or at home, it just really does vastly underserve kids by serially omitting these stories by only learning about Black and brown people in the context of struggle …. and from this perspective of lack,” she said.

This idea is EXACTLY why we created our Bite-Sized Black History program, so be sure to check it out to hear stories of Black joy and excellence.

Decolonized stories don’t revolve around the perspective of Europeans/white people.

Alexandria explains, “For white kids, [decolonized stories are] also very important because they can have the opportunity to have that firm foundation in practicing seeing and loving others. This is not to say that white kids don’t need practice seeing and loving themselves — they just have more opportunities to do that. So they really need to hit the road when it comes to practicing seeing and loving others.”

Learn more about decolonized stories by listening to the First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 10: “Anti-Racist Education at Home and in the Classroom with Alexandria Scott.” 

And don’t forget to check out all of our Untold Stories episodes:

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