Your say / LaToyah McAllister-Jones
‘Owning my voice as a Black female leader in the arts’
“I did everything Fred Astaire did, but I did it backwards with heels on.”
This is a version of something Ginger Rogers once said in an interview, which a colleague shared with me when talking about their perception of female leadership.
It immediately made me laugh and resonated deeply – this is often what Black female leadership feels like.
is needed now More than ever
You’re doing everything everyone else is doing, but with additional health hazards!
Being a Black female leader often feels like doing everything everyone else is doing, but with additional health hazards – photo: Pankaj Vasantrai
As Black History Month 2024 draws to a close, with the powerful theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, I find myself reflecting on what this theme truly means for Black women, particularly for those of us in leadership roles.
Leading a Black-led arts organisation like St Paul’s Carnival is deeply personal.
It’s about more than just organising an event or even managing a business.
It’s about community, culture, resilience, and the deep sense of responsibility that comes with being a steward of Black heritage in spaces that have not always welcomed us.
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The Struggle for Authentic Leadership in the Arts
In my journey leading St Paul’s Carnival, I’ve faced many challenges that go beyond the usual trials of organisational leadership.
It’s no secret that Black female leaders often navigate unique hurdles in spaces where our voices have historically been overlooked, if not actively silenced (Diane Abbott, anyone?).
We must advocate for the authenticity of our work, defend our right to claim space, and continually push against the societal barriers that attempt to frame us as perpetual outsiders in our own narratives.
St Paul’s Carnival chair Levi Roots – photo: St Paul’s Carnival
One incident remains with me as a stark reminder of how deeply embedded these power dynamics are.
During a critical period for St Paul’s Carnival, I was threatened by a white, male leader who was well known to me.
He openly suggested he could sway potential funders against us, essentially holding our community’s legacy at ransom by flexing his connections and influence.
It was an alarming experience – one that many of my peers will find shocking.
Black leaders often have to confront racism in this city – photo: St Paul’s Carnival
For Black leaders, this encounter will not come as surprise.
There’s the staff member who questions your leadership and credibility to manage them.
There’s having to challenge journalists when they misrepresent the organisation, and by extension our community, in a negative and harmful light.
This is just part of our everyday experience BEFORE we even start to address the day-to-day struggles the cultural sector is experiencing.
The 2024 Black History Month theme of ‘reclaiming narratives’ is a call to action – photo: St Paul’s Carnival
But, for me, these encounters serve as a reminder to embrace the courage that leadership in a Black-led organisation demands.
These attempts to undermine and deter me from advocating for our community’s place in the arts only strengthens my resolve.
Here is when we as leaders need to time to reclaim the narrative, to stand up and assert ownership of our vibrant cultural heritage and the value WE bring to the spaces we occupy.
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Reclaiming Narratives: The Journey to Owning My Voice
The theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ is a call to action, not just to retell history but to centre our own voices as Black leaders in spaces that have traditionally attempted to speak over or for us.
To reclaim our narrative is to reject the idea that our existence in these spaces is at someone else’s discretion.
It’s about affirming that we are more than capable of defining our own paths, making our own decisions and thriving as an unapologetic celebration of our heritage and identity.
Leadership, especially as a Black woman, often means facing adversity with resilience.
The arts have long been a critical avenue for self-expression and community empowerment – photo: Rob Browne
For too long, others have tried to position themselves as arbiters of our stories, gatekeepers of funding and overseers of our successes.
But to reclaim the narrative is to realise that we don’t need permission or validation from anyone to honour our voices, visions, and dreams.
Why Black-Led Spaces Matter: Breaking Down Gatekeeping in the Arts
The arts have long been a critical avenue for self-expression and community empowerment within the African Caribbean community.
St Paul’s Carnival, like so many other Black-led artistic and cultural spaces, is about reclaiming our stories and putting Black excellence on full display.
These are not just events: they’re a celebration of survival, joy, and legacy deeply rooted in our shared experiences and cultural pride.
Black-led arts organisations often offer an authenticity that is missing when our stories are filtered through lenses that fail to grasp their true essence.
LaToyah McAllister-Jones works hard to ensure Black voices are represented – photo: Bhagesh Sachania
Yet, these spaces are still questioned, managed, and influenced by those who don’t share the lived experiences of the communities they claim to serve.
For this reason, I work hard to ensure our voices are represented in spaces where if I am not the only person of colour, I am one of a small handful.
This is over and above my day job and stretches my capacity.
But it is important to occupy those seats and advocate for more people with diversity of background and lived experience.
St Paul’s Carnival is about reclaiming stories – photo: Dominik Bargiel
Breaking this cycle requires a shift not just in mindset, but in systemic support.
Black arts organisations need not simply ‘seek approval’ to thrive; they deserve equal access to funding, community support and representation at every level of decision-making.
When we reclaim our narratives, we demand that these institutions – often led by Black women – are respected for the value they bring, unmediated by external pressures to dilute or reshape our voices.
The Power of Owning Our Narrative
As a Black female leader, it is both an honour and a responsibility to advocate for the voices and visions of my community.
‘Reclaiming Narratives’ is about taking ownership, about embracing the voice that once seemed fragile and in the face of systemic pushback.
It’s about knowing that when we speak our truth, we inspire others to do the same.
Our work in the arts is not just for now, but for future generations who deserve to see themselves reflected in leadership, not as the exception, but as a vital part of the collective whole.
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In leading St Paul’s Carnival, I choose to own my voice.
I choose to honour my ancestors and the many Black women who paved the way before me, who reclaimed their narratives through artistry, activism, and unapologetic presence.
Every attempt to undermine our work, every gate put in our path, only reminds us why our voices are necessary.
Let’s continue to challenge the barriers that still attempt to control our stories and embrace the power that comes with knowing that our narratives are ours to tell.
As Black women in leadership, we stand on the shoulders of giants, carrying forward stories of resilience, brilliance and defiance that are too valuable to be silenced.
And as we do so, we remind the world that our narratives are no longer up for grabs – they belong, unequivocally, to us.
This is an opinion piece by LaToyah McAllister-Jones, the executive director of St Paul’s Carnival.
Main photo: John Craig Photos
Read next:
- St Paul’s Carnival co-founder given honorary degree
- St Paul’s Carnival makes triumphant return after four years away
- St Paul’s Carnival to now take place every two years
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