Strands of strength: Reflecting on Black identity — Mandida Sakutukwa

This paper explores Black identity. It considers how dominant narratives can shape identities and bolster problem stories. It describes a series of conversations that sought to disrupt dominant discourses by creating strong counter stories about Black identities. Second story development, deconstruction and re-authoring can lead to the reclaiming of space and the enactment of preferred identity stories. This paper presents prompts for conversations exploring experiences of Blackness, and describes a process of inviting people to become witnesses to their own stories.