Keti Koti: "They don't realise how bad the history of slavery is"

Ariana Valeriano is a third-year student of the Fine Art and Design in Education programme and an ambassador for diversity and inclusion at Minerva Art Academy. Ariana is from Curaçao and is very aware of the history of slavery. "I realise how many dreams have not come true because of slavery. How many families were torn apart by slavery. What would the Antilles and Suriname look like without slavery? What would Africa look like without slavery?"

Downside to our wealth

Ariana noticed during a class discussion at Minerva that the knowledge of the white Dutch population about this black chapter in history leaves much to be desired. "Most white students didn't know what the WIC (West India Company, ed.) was or where the Antilles are located. They did not realise how bad the history of slavery is. It is not just a part of history, it is also how black people are viewed to this day. They do not realise that there is a downside to Dutch wealth. White Dutch people do not see that they have privileges and benefits because of the slavery in the past. Dutch prosperity is built on the backs of Caribbean and African people." The palace on Dam Square was built in the seventeenth century as the city hall of Amsterdam," adds Marlot Akkermans. "In that period, Amsterdam became increasingly affluent through international trade, a large part of which involved the trade in enslaved people."

Other perspectives

Marlot teaches history and music at the teacher training college. She sees the Dutch history of slavery as an important part of the ten periods. "These periods cover the history of the Netherlands as it is now and should be offered in primary education," explains the primary education lecturer. Personally, Marlot agrees that it's an incredibly important topic, because it continues to this day. "History was written by white men in the past, and I think it's important to highlight other perspectives as well. I did my graduation internship on Curaçao, that may also have had an influence."

Not seen as an equal

Ariana agrees that history continues to have an impact to this day. She says that racism is still palpable in the Netherlands. "There are still times when I notice that we are not seen as equals. I am a woman and I am black, I have no privileges when it comes to colour and gender. I have to fight to be seen. And that I deserve to have my place in this world."

Children's books and work songs

Marlot often uses children's books in her lessons about our history of slavery. "It is, of course, a difficult subject to discuss, especially with young children, because very terrible things have happened. Children's books often strike the right tone. I am Ruby Bridges tells the story of a six-year-old black girl who goes to a previously exclusively white elementary school in the south of the United States for the first time. I also always discuss Anton de Kom, We slaves of Suriname, part of the historical canon of the Netherlands. In my music lessons we sing work songs from the slavery period."

Curriculum more inclusive

Ariana is doing her best to make the curriculum of Fine Art in Education more inclusive. "I want to teach my students about inclusivity, so that they have an empathetic view of the world around them because they have learnt about different perspectives. But you also have to make sure that your students will perform well on the exam. If I take the time to make a lesson more diverse and inclusive, it means less time for the curriculum itself. I find that balance very difficult."

Social Media

Marlot recognises having to choose between the curriculum, what you have to cover, and other topics that she also finds extremely important. "I think we can still improve the curriculum quite a bit. It is, of course, bizarre to only talk about black people in the context of the history of slavery. I can't imagine that does anything to help the cause of black people. I am also looking for it myself, to give more people of colour a natural place in my education. Just like Ariana, I just don't have that much time to cover all the material I should cover." That is also why Marlot is active on social media. "To tell the stories there that I can't tell in my lessons. We are in a transitional phase and we are far from where we want to be: seeing our inclusive society represented in history, in art, in language and in literature."

Art with a message

Artists often use their work to address, criticise or change social and political issues. Ariana is convinced that art can contribute to the awareness and understanding of history. "Art can definitely help. During the Black Lives Matter protests, art was also a very important tool. Art that contains a message is much stronger than words alone." Ariana's art is often about the black experience. "About how you change inside when you are not accepted. I am no longer the cheerful girl I was on Curaçao. There I was just a girl, here a black woman, I'm very aware of that."

It does make sense

"How can we improve ourselves? What can we do as individual white people to make you feel at home in Groningen?", Marlot asks. Ariana: "Take a very conscious look at how you deal with white people and also how you deal with white people you don't know. Compare that to how you deal with people of colour and with people of colour you don't know. If you see a difference in that, try to change it. It is often about little things you aren’t aware of. I can't give a ready-made recipe, because some people are more inclusive than others. I think it's very nice what Marlot does in her classes and that Hanze is publishing this article. It does make sense!", concludes Ariana.

Keti Koti City Walk

To mark Keti Koti, Hanze Diversity and Inclusion is organising a walk on July 3 and 4 along locations that have something to do with Groningen's history of slavery. The walk is free for Hanze students and staff. More information can be found on the Hanze inclusive instagram page.

Sign up for the Keti Koti City Walk