Identity and Nationhood – The Black Atlantic: Episode 2 | Tate

In the second part of our mini-series on the Black Atlantic, culture writer and curator Ekow Eshun considers identity and nationhood through the work of Ellen Gallagher, Lubaina Himid, John Akomfrah, Chris Ofili and Fred Wilson.

In 1993, Paul Gilroy published a ground-breaking book, The Black Atlantic: Modernity & Double Consciousness, which has forever left its mark on historical and cultural studies. The idea that there exists a culture which is African, American, Caribbean, and British, all at once, has generated the rich and boundless space that is Black Atlantic thinking.

This series explores Tate's collection and the impact of the Atlantic slave trade through the lens of the Black Atlantic. It gives an accessible introduction to the Black Atlantic, how it can help us to understand British identity and how we can acknowledge and learn from history to look towards the future.

[johanvanhuyssteen]

So well done and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and the content. Bravo to the entire team!

[maryseo.]

Very very interesting, thank you very much from France

[canvaMaster]

if i am more than the sum of my parts, then how could one of my parts represent all ? - Mavs 2016

[geralldus]

Why this obsession with needing confirmation from the external, surely that is what an infant seeks from their carer in the mirroring process that builds the child's sense of self. If you are still seeking confirmation in adulthood doesn't it simply show a development deficit that tends to manifests in rather hollow political action. Knowing who you are is a often a long, tortuous and solitary process and I cannot see that political action has a great deal to do with or am I missing the point?