Black History Month: Reclaim the narrative and share the untold stories of everyday heroes
As we celebrate Black History Month, we have a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change.
The theme ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ encourages everyone, regardless of ethnicity, to participate in highlighting how our stories are told and celebrated. This goes beyond recognition; it’s about amplifying our voices, honouring our experiences, and celebrating the contributions of those who have shaped our communities. Together, we can foster a richer understanding of black history for current and future generations.
To mark BHM, we had a chat with Anthony Musa, Director of Performance, Planning and Insights, to find out more about his career journey, what Black History Month means to him, challenges faced as a BAME staff member and his role models.
Career background
I’ve worked at CLCH for the past 12 years including roles in Business and Performance in the Outer North West and old children’s divisions, as a Quality Improvement Facilitator and also in project management.
Earlier this year, I started a new role as Director of Performance, Planning and Insight. As part of my role, I oversee performance across the Trust which includes working with colleagues to represent clinical activity and other measures to our board and external partners, as well as benchmarking ourselves locally and nationally.
My team is also responsible for using data to provide insights that support the work we do such as service reviews and how we can understand our productivity. I also lead the Trust's planning function which coordinates our plans to ensure that the key changes and improvements we are all working on align with Trust strategy and national priorities.
What does Black History Month and this year’s theme bring to mind?
I was lucky to grow up in a family that had a strong oral history tradition, so I grew up listening to folk tales from my grandmother and hearing about the deeds of my ancestors on my father’s side who played a role in spreading Islam from the North to Southern Nigeria.
The theme ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ reminds me of these stories, and that there is more to black history than the story of colonisation. Too often, our narratives have been shaped by those outside our communities, leading to inaccuracies and a lack of representation. This theme encourages us to reclaim that narrative and share the untold stories of everyday heroes as well as influential figures who have made a significant impact on our lives, and shaped the world that we live in today. When we reclaim the narrative, we tell the stories of those people in their voices and give credit where it’s due.
Are there any role models that have inspired you and why?
It might sound a bit cliché but my honest answer to this is my mum. She’s been the closest and clearest example to me of what it looks like to be a good person. Her hard work and self-sacrifice are a close to home picture of what so many have gone through and will always be an inspiration to me.
What reflections do you have on any challenges faced as a BAME staff?
I’d say that one of the biggest issues I’ve seen and faced is the powerlessness that people feel when they do not think they can speak up or that there will be no action or impact from them doing so.
I firmly believe that a problem not known cannot be solved and so I encourage everyone to speak out when they think things can be better, whether that is for how we best provide patient care or how we treat each other in the workplace.
What would be your message to NHS leaders on their role in tackling racism in the service?
Hearing and acknowledging the voices of staff and patients about what is happening in the NHS is important, and as leaders we must be accountable for this and take bold steps to tackle it.
On an individual level I’d also say leaders need to be mindful and aim to surface and tackle any of their own unconscious biases. Finally, where decisions are made, think of how to include more diverse voices in the conversation to weaken the foundations of structural racism.
How to get involved
Reclaiming Narratives serves as a powerful invitation for participation. It’s a call for anyone with a story to tell to join us in this collective effort.
By sharing your stories and experiences, you can contribute to a movement that seeks to reshape public understanding of black history. This is an opportunity to highlight the richness of our heritage, the complexity of our identities, and the breadth of our contributions across various fields.
