Quote by M. NourbeSe Philip: “History is not past, it is ever present.”

This powerful assertion challenges the notion that history is simply a bygone era. It emphasizes that past events, particularly those of trauma and injustice, continue to actively influence and shape the present moment.

In the late 2000s, there was a heightened awareness of how historical injustices, particularly slavery, continue to reverberate and impact contemporary societies. Philip's work forcefully argues that the past is not inert but actively shapes the present, demanding ongoing engagement.

Trinidadian-Canadian poet and essayist whose experimental work confronts the violence of colonial language and legal systems. Her 2008 poetry collection Zong! reconstructs the legal decision in the Zong massacre — in which enslaved people were thrown overboard for insurance money — from the original court documents.