“All human beings are born free and equal”: a Black studies critique of human rights

Abstract

This study provides a critical race analysis of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) through the lens of Black experiences. It investigates the historical codification of human rights in the UDHR, the assumptions that underpin the widespread institutional and academic celebration of the UDHR, and the critiques of human rights present in specific Black Studies discourses. The study poses two key questions: What insights can we gain from the critiques of human rights articulated in Black Studies? What perspectives does Black Studies bring into awareness about human rights and the work of human rights in the contemporary world order? Ultimately, the study concludes that the rejection of the human rights framework in certain traditions of Black Studies—especially the challenge to accepted notions of universality—exposes the limitations and contradictions of the universal claims made in the UDHR.