Taking back control: How Black people are using creative expression as a form of self-empowerment and healing
Words by Siham Ali
Faith Johnson, founder of Caramel Rock
Courtesy of Nike
Creative expression is the bedrock of humanity. Whether it’s dancing, writing, photography, visual art or acting – creativity is a way to cope with the everyday. It opens a world of possibilities and alternative forms of communication. It is critical to one’s own mental, spiritual and physical growth. For Black people in the UK, creative expression is the key to gaining ownership of their image on their own terms.
According to one psychologist, exercising creativity has a range of psychological benefits. Brad Brenner Ph.D. explains that when lost in creative flow, our brain waves slow down and the prefrontal cortex temporarily ‘goes quiet’, making us brave and less critical of our ideas. When this happens, the possibilities of our creative expression begin to feel limitless, thus making way for growth and healing. Another study found that in physiotherapy, 59% of the participating physiotherapists benefit from using creative activities during their sessions, signalling the power of creative expression in improving mental health.
Annette Brook, Theatre Peckham
Courtesy of Nike
Suzann McLean, Theatre Peckham
Courtesy of Nike
Dona Matthews Ph.D believes that creative expression, specifically in children, allows them to “redirect the horrors that surround them, to the beauty and possibilities of the world, which proves critical to their psychological resilience.” It gives children the confidence to practice psychological coping, allowing them to enter the world re-assured and equipped to be who they want to be. This ethos is one that Theatre Peckham (TP), a community theatre in the heart of east London tries to instil in young children, especially those struggling to enter the arts. The charity resides in the North Peckham Estate, a former ‘no-go zone’ which the founders of TP believe was “robbing children of their self-esteem.”
The theatre aims to provide a “culture of possibilities” to children as young as three years old through their TP Academy. At the 2021 Golden Globes, alumni and British-Nigerian actor John Boyega said: “I loved to be in school plays, but I never knew there were other kids like me from south London who loved the same thing. At TP, I met people like me.” His mentors and teachers encouraged his creativity and taught him that it wasn’t just for white privileged people – and those early teachings arguably birthed the man we see today.
Nike supports Theatre Peckham as well as four other organisations that aim to foster creativity and use it as a tool to uplift London’s Black youth. The grant was established in 2021 to support non-profit organisations dedicated to creating lasting change for the Black community in education, play and sports equity, economic empowerment and career progression.
A 1968 NASA study testing the creative potential of young children found that 98% of five-year-olds were creative, but by 15 years old, it stood at 12%. The reason was said to be down to the schools' lack of focus on creative expression. Faith Johnson, founder of Caramel Rock, an educational charity helping disadvantaged kids enter the fashion industry, tells us that at 19, she felt like there was not enough effort to introduce young girls or people like her into the creative world, particularly “those with eclectic style and expression who desired a safe place to be creative outside of the structured school environment.” At the time, Faith was dealing with personal issues at home, and fashion became a medium for her to work through her emotions. She continues, “I had no place to learn and nurture my craft or meet others like me, so I decided to do something about it.” Faith’s personal experience reiterates how vital creative expression is to psychological healing and growth.
Performing arts and dance are incredibly popular forms of creative expression. Dance helps to communicate ideas, feelings, and experiences through bodily movements and is even said to have healing powers. Qualitative findings from 817 studies suggest there was a decrease in depression among those participating in Dance Movement Therapy. Ballet Black, a neo-classical ballet company in London providing Black and Asian dancers a space to express themselves is “championing creative expression and wellbeing for Black and Asian dancers, choreographers, and teachers, whilst nurturing talent in the junior school”. Ballet Black is giving its members an outlet and opportunities to be centre stage in an industry that has previously been white-dominated.
Basheba Baptiste, Talawa Theatre
Courtesy of Nike
ML Forsyth, Talawa Theatre
Courtesy of Nike
Within the performing arts world, which is said to offer a safe environment to express or reflect on difficult emotions and helps to regulate emotions, Talawa Theatre, a Black theatre company in London stands out as a key player. The organisation tells us: “We have a desire to present stories from our authentic perspectives. And to give voice to artists of all generations.” The artists are encouraged to explore forms of expression that help them to be seen, and Talawa merely supports and enables them. Talawa is nurturing the next generation of Black actors to ensure the industry stays representative of the multicultural city.
In a similar vein, initiatives like The S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys Project focus on this idea of taking back control of one’s own image. It has designed a series of photography, poetry, and discussion-based art workshops with boys ages 13 to 15. Their mission is to challenge the negative stereotypes of Black boys while providing them with positive tools to navigate their mental health through the arts. “Creative expression is one of the most important pillars of the project as it provides the young people with agency over their stories and narratives. It gives them autonomy to express themselves authentically and unapologetically,” says founder Kay Rufai.
The S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys Project founder Kay Rufai
Courtesy of Nike
The power of creative expression is undisputed. It is a tool for growth, but also acceptance and exploration of one’s own emotions, trauma, and history. For many, it has allowed them to usurp and regain control of their self-image. For others, it has given them a path to success. The organisations spotlighted by Nike’s grant initiative in London are all working in tandem to create a society in which Black creativity is given greater importance – and rightly so.