“The Black People’s Side of the Story”: The Historical and Transatlantic Roots of the Movement for Black Lives

Abstract

Abstract:Black freedom fighters have always been at the forefront pushing the United States to accept the ideals it was founded on and were—are—unrelenting in their groundbreaking campaigns for abolition, equality, and social justice. In this article, I argue that to add nuance and a greater understanding to the philosophies developed by such freedom fighters, it is necessary to evaluate the transatlantic connections between the United States and Britain. Complicating and expanding their calls for antiracism and anti-oppression, Black activists have gained an alternative international perspective on British soil. Beginning with a discussion of the Movement for Black Lives in the US and its links with the UK, I analyze the movement’s historical and transatlantic roots.