Introducing Nurtured Magazine: The Historical Importance of Archiving Black Women’s Narratives and Creativity

In a world where narratives and identities are often shaped by those with power, the voices of Black women have historically been marginalised. This article explores how Black women in Britain have historically harnessed print to carve out their own spaces for discourse and elevate their voices, and highlights the recent launch of Nurtured Magazine by Black Women* at Edinburgh (BWE) to archive Black womens’ stories and inspire future generations at the university.

This summer, I immersed myself in the archives at the Feminist Library in Peckham, sifting through Black British women’s magazines for my dissertation on print culture and Black women’s activism in Britain. What I discovered was an array of vibrant narratives and compelling discourses, theorising Black British feminism and empowering Black women.

The act of archiving stories and creativity has long been crucial for asserting the identities of Black women, both in Britain and across the globe. Scholar Heidi Safia Mirza defines Black British feminism as a powerful act of self-identification, enabling Black women—historically marginalised and silenced—to reclaim their narratives and assert their rightful place in a world that has often sought to define them through oppressive stereotypes.

Print media emerged as a critical platform, amplifying Black women’s voices during the late 1970s and 80s, a time when Black feminism blossomed in the wake of postcolonial and civil rights movements. Publications like OWAAD, Speak Out!, and We Are Here were spearheaded by Black women for Black women and women of colour, actively challenging the power dynamics that perpetuated derogatory representations. While Black women sought allyship from Black men in Black nationalist spheres, and white women in feminist circles, they were left dually sidelined. A reality that speaks to Kimberle Crenshaw’s coined tern ‘intersectionality’ - the intersection of social identities (race, gender, class etc.) that create overlapping forms of oppression. In Ain’t I A Woman, Bell Hooks expresses this intersectionality by writing “When black people are talked about the focus tends to be on black men; and when women are talked about the focus tends to be on white women.” These print publications truly allowed Black women to emerge as historical agents, writing their own stories against the backdrop of systemic oppression. 

This complex history, coupled with my excitement for my dissertation, inspired me to launch Nurtured Magazine, the official publication of Black Women at Edinburgh (BWE). If you’re not familiar, BWE is a newly formed society at the university dedicated to fostering sisterhood and empowerment for Black women—academically, personally, and professionally. Nurtured Magazine is a collaborative endeavour that brings together BWE’s talented writers, visual artists, and photographers to share stories and unleash their creativity. We draw inspiration from the remarkable legacies of 20th-century Black women in Britain, who wielded print as a tool of activism, and we aim to continue their vital work, lighting the path for future generations.

The University of Edinburgh has been home to numerous influential Black women, and it’s essential to preserve their legacies. Too often, the rich stories and experiences of Black women are overlooked or erased. We bear the responsibility to unearth and celebrate these narratives, making them accessible to the university community to ensure their legacy endures. Nurtured Magazine aspires to document the presence of Black women on campus and throughout Edinburgh, serving as both a celebration and an archive of our existence.

Some groundwork has already been laid by UncoverED, a university-funded project dedicated to revealing the histories of forgotten graduates from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas. While this initiative highlights people of colour, several remarkable Black women alumni have been documented, including Clara Marguerite Christian, Agnes Yewande Savage, Kesaveloo Goonam, Matilda J. Clerk, and Florence Nwapa. 

Yet, given the expansive scope of UncoverED’s work, it’s crucial to establish archival projects specifically focused on Black women. The vision for Nurtured Magazine is deeply rooted in foresight and ‘archival consciousness’—a term used by scholars Yula Burin and Ego Ahaiwe Sowinski, reflecting on their experiences within feminism. How powerful would it be for future students to witness the vibrant presence of Black women in 2024 at the University of Edinburgh? Through Nurtured Magazine, we strive not just to celebrate our achievements but to create a lasting legacy that future generations can explore and cherish.

References

Allman, E. (2024). Clara Marguerite Christian. [online] The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered/1910/clara-marguerite-christian [Accessed 4 Oct. 2024].

Burin, Y. and Sowinski, E.A., 2014. Sister to sister: developing a black British feminist archival consciousness. feminist review, 108(1), pp.112-119.

Crenshaw, K.W., 2013. Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. In The public nature of private violence (pp. 93-118). Routledge.

Dee, H. (2024). Kesaveloo Goonam. [online] The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered/1930/kesaveloo-goonam [Accessed 4 Oct. 2024].

Hooks, B., 2014. Ain't I a woman: Black women and feminism.

Mirza, H.S. ed., 1997. Black British feminism: A reader. Taylor & Francis.

UncoverED (2024a). Florence Nwapa. [online] The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered/1950/florence-nwapa [Accessed 4 Oct. 2024].

UncoverED (2024b). Matilda J. Clerk. [online] The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered/1940/matilda-j-clerk [Accessed 4 Oct. 2024].

University of Edinburgh (2024). UncoverED. [online] The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered [Accessed 4 Oct. 2024].

Author bio:

Claudia is a fourth year History and Politics student at the University of Edinburgh. In previous years, she has served as the Welfare and Wellbeing Officer for the African and Caribbean Society and a Junior Columnist at Retrospect Journal. She is the author of A Letter Away From Asaba, a historical fiction on the Asaba massacre of the Nigerian civil war. A freelance journalist, Claudia writes articles and produces audio content on Afro-diasporic stories, history, and culture. Her work has been published by the likes of the BBC, Afrocritik, and the McGill Daily. 

Instagram: @claudiaefemini @nurtured.mag @blackwomenatedinburgh