Just as myths, legends, and “grand narratives” about nation-building feed into the perception of belonging on the national level, they also impact the collective memory and narratives of history on local levels. Thus, ECCAR wanted to feature new perspectives on the histories of minority communities during the workshop “Telling Plural Histories of Europe,” conducted during the General Conference in September 2024 in Heidelberg.
Two speakers shared personal stories highlighting the various perspectives on belonging, citizenship, identity, and community. Federico Szarfer from the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) illustrated how objects found in private homes can contribute to a culture of remembrance and reflect the complex narratives of local minorities. He recounted the significance of a cup used for the ritual blessing of wine during Shabbat and Jewish holidays. This cup holds a special meaning passed down through generations from his great-great-grandfather, and it has journeyed with his family from Eastern Europe to Argentina and back to Europe, specifically Spain.
Federico explained that although his family's identities may have changed depending on their location, the cup has remained a constant symbol of their heritage, representing a unique connection to his family's history. Interestingly, the “kiddush” cup, symbolising his family’s resilience through migration challenges, is adorned with Arabic script. The inscription on the cup, “Water for health and happiness,” gave us an idea of how it may have come into his great-great-grandfather's possession during his travels. This detail adds another Middle Eastern layer to Federico’s family story and religious traditions.
We also had the opportunity to hear from Isabela Mihalache, a passionate advocate from the European Roma Grassroots Organisation Network (ERGO). As she recounted her childhood in Romania, she painted a vivid picture of her early years, when the concept of being "Roma" was unfamiliar. It was only as she entered her teenage years that the societal labels began to take shape around her.
Isabela shared how her surroundings changed as friends and acquaintances started to treat her differently, casting her in the role of a "Roma" under the weight of cultural expectations. This imposition of identity felt suffocating; she found herself without agency in defining who she was. The struggle left her feeling isolated and afraid, reluctant to disclose her Roma heritage in social gatherings for fear of being judged or marginalised. Her experiences illuminated the profound impact of societal identity prescriptions on personal agency and self-acceptance.
Historical narratives are continuously shaped and reinforced through various channels, such as education, political discourse, and media representation. Daniel Bax, a Board member of the New German Media Makers (Die Neuen deutschen Medienmacher*innen), emphasised the media's significant role in influencing public perceptions of minority groups. He points out the importance of having diverse media creators, as this diversity can lead to a broader range of perspectives and stories being highlighted in media coverage. For example, in Germany, the guests featured on talk shows often represent only a limited segment of the overall demographic. This is notable because the media holds a democratic responsibility to encompass diverse voices and viewpoints that reflect the entirety of society.
In educational contexts, systematic forms of oppression are frequently minimised, downplayed, or ignored regarding historically marginalised and racialised groups. The City of Zurich has produced teaching materials for Zurich schools to facilitate critical conversations about how slavery has contributed to the city's growth and how its legacy still manifests in its daily life.
During the workshop, Prof. Dr Natasha A. Kelly highlighted the power of digital spaces and how important it is to awaken university students’ interest in less-read books. She conducted a project that encouraged the students to present a story based on a book they chose from the library’s digital databases. Such projects present a low-threshold approach to picking up stories often left hidden yet can be reached even if they were available in another library on another continent. Her talk showcased the importance of giving agency in educational settings and letting people choose the stories they want to share as it makes them more personal.
To provide more inclusivity and representation in their communities, it is thus imperative for local authorities to critically deconstruct the standardised history narratives and acknowledge plural histories based on the perspectives of those groups. One such measure could also be a local strategy for an inclusive remembrance culture. The City of Zurich aims to draft such a strategy for 2025 based on an academic study which showed, among others, that the City has excluded histories of immigrants, especially those of economic migrants, from the local remembrance culture. Another example of pluralising the urban space in remembrance culture is naming streets, which the study on remembrance culture in Zurich also pointed out.
In the municipality of Schaerbeek, Belgium, an exemplary step has been taken in the contestation of memorial markers by turning around the bust of Schaerbeek’s former racist and xenophobic mayor, Roger Nols. Standing in the town hall, aside from 11 other former mayors, his bust is now facing the wall. Also, QR codes were added to the other mayors' busts. Schaerbeek has also included in educational materials for the Schaerbeek schools testimonies from people who lived in Schaerbeek during the 1970s and 1980s, people who suffered from Roger Nols’ policies, who fought against him, who resisted specific measures, but also people who were close to him, who worked for him or who supported him.
The workshop contributions and shared city good practices show how many perspectives often stay hidden, as even in minority representation, confident voices are, even if unintentionally, more privileged than others. Yet, cities can pluralise these histories by empowering diverse voices in education, remembrance of culture, media and archives, local action plans, and even by hiring cultural mediators. It is essential to start by assessing the needs and considering the local context, and afterwards begin with small, feasible steps, including the communities, in planning projects from the beginning to the end.
By Dr Linda Hyökki, ECCAR Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor
