By Eric Lopez

The vast majority of US History taught in our school system originates from predominantly white perspectives. The exclusion from black perspectives of history is problematic because it erases the challenges endured by Black Americans. This can create a lack of empathy when people of color are oppressed and can lead to internalized oppression within people of color, which permits racism to persist in society. However, young authors like Mena Williams have taken the initiative to provide an inclusive history and empowerment for people of color. Published by Novelly, Mena Williams’s novella, The Untold History: Sea of Freedom, features a young African female, Adelola, who is forced into slavery but she frees herself and becomes the hero of her people.

As much as we strive to become anti-racist, it is just as important to take a step back and assess how society is in this situation in the first place. Throughout history, people of color have been taken advantage of. Because oppressors are typically interested in feeling superior, ensuring that inclusive history is taught in classrooms is not at the top of their list of priorities. By recognizing and highlighting the narratives of people of color through an inclusive history, we can build a more anti-racist society and a stronger force of empathy for people of color when they face injustice.

Social media is where I began to see police brutality and discrimination over race highlighted the most. The news covered police brutality every now and then, but I noticed that they would typically represent people of color in a negative way. Witnessing those different aspects made me think about how the stories we are told in society shape how we view people.

Mena Williams shared that the Black Lives Matter protests have been an inspiration for her to write her e-book because she wants to expose “all those things (injustices) society wants to hide from us” and dismantle oppressive messages. Not only is her book written from the perspective of a young black woman, but it also carries the sentiment of being strong in the face of danger. With that, she is enabling people of color to not be treated as anything less than human while also making readers aware of the atrocities that black people have experienced.

To hear more of the conversation Mena Williams has started, listen to Episode 2 of the Read to Heal Podcast. In it, she discusses her process in creating The Untold History: Sea of Freedom, an inclusive perspective on history, and her upcoming work!

Eric Lopez is a high school student attending Camino Nuevo Dalzell Lance and a high school content creation intern at Novelly for Summer 2022.

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