REBOOT: The Myth of the Black Experience

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Here's our monthly reboot article. It's pretty timely as I've had similar discussions with Black colleagues in the last few weeks. I've taken the opportunity to add links to some relevant articles and to update some of the language.

I’m sure a lot of you have been in the position where you’re in a room and something comes up relating to people racialised as Black or to your particular Global Majority group. All of a sudden every head swivels your way and you’re asked for the “Black perspective”.

It happens in schools, during classes and group projects. It happens at work in one-to-one and large meetings. It happens socially, among both friends and strangers. [2025 update: I recently shared some examples from the school context - it can be pretty uncomfortable.]

Depending on who you talk to, being on the receiving end of this question can be irritating, hurtful or perceived as racism (because would I presume to ask a person I know who's racialised as white for “the white perspective”? I would not!) I recognise that people are individuals - and complex ones at that. And I’d like white people of my acquaintance - and out in the world - to do the same.

Certainly, there are things Black people from different places have in common. Both African Americans and Caribbean people share the history of enslavement. People from many countries share the experience of colonisation. Black people targeted by law enforcement have similar experiences of injustice wherever that happens. And structural, systematic racism affects Black and Global Majority people worldwide.

For all that, we are still individuals, with our own experiences. Within the Caribbean, people who are rich or middle-class or working class will experience the system differently, as is the case for Black people around the world. Some people may have resources - internal or financial - that insulate them against the worst that white supremacist systems can throw at them. Some do not. [2025 update: As we see the seismic shifts happening around the globe, this has become more apparent than ever - the ability to move countries to escape tyranny is a privilege, for example, and most people don't have it.]

Some have different experiences depending on where they are. For example, the US, the UK and the Caribbean have white supremacist systems because of their history, but in only ONE of those places do I see people who share my identity regularly in positions of power - and even that is relative. [2025 update: The way some countries try to bully others - there's no other word for it - is another example of this.]

Whenever I’m asked this question - and it has happened a LOT - I tend to qualify it by saying where my perspective is coming from and that others may feel differently. Because I know that when I sit around a table with my Black friends, we don’t all think the same way.

My point is: you can’t simplify or ignore the complexity of people’s lived experiences. Even though I have a global perspective and relationships with Black people around the world, I certainly don’t feel qualified to speak on behalf of every Black person. We are not monoliths, and despite the many things we have in common, there is no single Black experience.

Consider that before the next time you think about putting your Black colleague on the spot.

Black and Global Majority folks, how does this land with you? Would-be accomplices, what about you? I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2022, 2025. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).