Resisting the abolition myth: Journalistic turning points in the Dutch memory of slavery

Abstract

The date 1 July 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands, and though the Dutch memory of slavery had previously been largely silenced, the interests of the Afro-Dutch community and recent racial tension transformed the anniversary into a national commemoration. By looking at the emergence of narrative themes and agents in mainstream news media, this article asks whether the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands provided an opportunity for the proliferation of counter-narratives and the inclusion of ethnic memories of slavery in the official narrative. This analysis of 222 newspaper articles shows that 2013 was a turning point in the utilization of slavery memory. The narrative transitioned from an abolitionist memorial regime, telling only of the end of slavery, to a victimary regime that allowed for more open discussion on the realities and lasting consequences of slavery.