Black Lives Don't Matter - National Museums Liverpool (NML)

Greetings,

It was with great interest I read an article on concerns raised  regarding issues black curators have, or may not have, on dealing with artefacts that may be disturbing to work with in terms of the racist implications behind the usage in times past.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/01/black-staff-offered-counselling-curating-difficult-slavery-museum/

Furthermore,  as it is assumed that the black curators may experience emotional trauma, that they be offered access to "help" to deal with "difficult content",  with the provision of mental health support, and of "safe spaces" for black curators to 'escape' the stress of such racist historical content, it appears this is a subject worthy of further discussion.

It is well known amongst the black community within the U.K. that the subject of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, how slaves were brutally treated, the controversial  methods used to restrain, constrain, and punish the slaves in to submission, never ceases to raise emotional feelings of anger, and fuel heated discussion. To suggest that black curators working with historically racist artefacts may experience a negative effect on their mental health, and therefore will be offered help where necessary, is very uncomfortable reading indeed. 

What evidence is there to sustain this view?  Personally, I would prefer the black curators to state their own concerns publicly, if such concerns exist. 

For those who may not be aware, black curators are not exclusive to the National Museums Liverpool. Caribbean curators are also within The  Caribbean Region pursuing their research and/or recording artefacts on that highly contentious and controversial period of Caribbean History. Each find, and discovery of knowledge, strengthens the resolve to heighten research efforts to piece together its 'buried' history,  and that of its slave ancestors. Apart from the typical human feelings of tiredness and occasional stress that all we humans experience from time to time, to date I have not heard of any issues regarding the mental health of researchers/curators in the field of African and Caribbean History at universities and museums within The Caribbean Region. I am willing to be corrected.

I would have thought that black curators, at a museum within the U.K., given the opportunity to be at the helm of working with artefacts which are significant in the history of their people, would place them in the ideal position to learn extensively and enthusiastically of the past, and build a picture of the horrors of slavery not only for the Black African/Caribbean Community's educational benefit, but for everyone's learning and interest.

I will set aside the Black Lives Matter Movement, for the moment, which in my opinion, is being used as a cover for this extraordinary assumption. Unless there are other underlying reasons to give validity to the issue that black curators may require "help" in the provision of mental health support, and "safe spaces", and these  be offered should the need arise, in order to cope with the positives and negatives of their work,  I will treat that assumption with extreme scepticism.

Peace

Grace

Black Lives Don't Matter - The Robert Milligan statue

Greetings,

The applause was premature on the removal of the Robert Milligan statue. Why? The statue of Robert Milligan was not removed to pacify protesters of the Black Lives Matter Movement per se regardless of what statement was released. It was a question of preserving the statue, and to save it from potential damage and/or destruction as seen during events that took place with the Edward Colston statue in Bristol.

In the year of his death, in 1809, Robert Milligan, a Scottish merchant, owned 526 slaves in Jamaica who worked on his sugar plantations at Kellet's, and at Mammee Gully both of which were in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica.
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Milligan_(Merchant)

Apart from Robert Milligan being a slave owner in his lifetime, there is much history we can learn of his exploits in the West Indies, but most of all how he played an integral role in the construction of the West India Dock, in London. I am not trying to be a killjoy here, but I tend to look beyond the front page for 'the reasons why' certain happenings took place in the past.

Slavery and British Imperial History is galling to say the least. Yet in the midst of it all, descendants of slaves need to look beyond the surface, and the historical emotional upheaval of the past offences towards our ancestors, to recognise our ancestral connection between events of that period of history, more recent history, and Britain's monuments and statues celebrated within the U.K. Remember, as ethnic minorities we have our heroes/heroines too who were in the U.K, made their contribution, and/or studied in the U.K. while enduring rejection, for example, Mahatma Ghandi (India), Mary Seacole (Jamaica).

There is much history that West Indians in the U.K. and their descendants are not privy to regarding historical documentations of The British Empire. The monuments and statues of statesmen, stateswomen, slaveowners, politicians who may have played a part in Britain's Imperial History, or other aspects of British History which has had an impact in Black Caribbean History, and Black African History, should be researched and connections made to give our history more clarity and depth. Our descendants that follow need to have a clearer understanding of who they are as a people, and will be able to defend their race, history, and cultures with unbridled knowledge, rather that with radical acts which are fleeting and accomplish nothing to move our people forward.

The British born ethnic minority will never be English Anglo Saxons,  or any other indigenous descendant within the United Kingdom. Therefore, it is imperative, that our genealogical ancestry, and historical knowledge is known, and passed on to future generations in order for them to negotiate the race relations obstacles that will continuously be a part of their lives, as well as adaptation to the English way of life. Stability is created by knowing who you are, and where you stand, regardless of the opposition. It is worthy to note that these were the values that The Windrush Generation upheld and lived by. With all of their trials in England, there were many times they were up against it, put down, racially abused, humiliated, made to feel that they were uneducated, lacking in intelligence, and even suffered the loss of some of their compatriots under questionable circumstances. Nevertheless, in the face of overt and covert hostilities, they never allowed neither themselves, nor anyone else, to place them in a 'subject' and 'inferior' position which was always interpreted by the 'wise and prudent' as insubordination, or/and "having a chip on one's shoulder". Holding one's position, with respect, was the forte of The Windrush Generation. They had seen and experienced much nonsense on having the British settlers on their respective islands during Crown Colony, many of whom were of the upper class. So it was somewhat of a surprise on arrival in England to find that Crown Colony was not a true reflection of the Motherland.

Within Jamaica, and other West Indian islands, there are still relics, symbols, burial sites in and outside of churches, and  school names, and even the personal surnames of Caribbean people etc. that remind the West Indies of its strong link with slavery, the imperial, and colonial past of Britain. Nevertheless, out of that abyss, The Caribbean Region has, and is still resurrecting its history, identity, culture, and original relationship with its true Motherland, Africa, to uncover its buried history, not of its own making, and continue to build a new narrative.

The Black British Caribbean Community need to follow-up the history of Robert Milligan and the role he played in the planning, and financing of the West India Dock. It must be remembered that Jamaican, and no doubt, other West Indian produce and resources flooded the British market during that time, of which the West India Dock played a part, and the natural resources of the West Indies in many instances were used to manufacture goods in Britain which were then imported into West Indian islands, which the indigenous West Indian people could not afford, but the British settlers could. My parents remember well this aspect of their homeland's history during their experiences of Crown Colony. Profitable Indigenous entrepreneurship was not encouraged - a polite way of putting it.
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_India_Docks

I do not support the wanton destruction of statues within the U.K., representing stalwarts of the past, with a questionable link to slavery. It is counterproductive, and achieves nothing, especially when it brings about a retaliation by destroying statues which are not indigenous to the home nation, for example, the Haile Selassie bust at Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, London.

What is needed is a change of mindset.

The Black British Caribbean Community need to ensure that they, and their children, and grandchildren, take the opportunity to visit places of public interest which will give them access to British Imperial History, and in general the History of Britain. This research should be in conjunction with research on Britain's colonial history in the West Indies in its entirety and not just focus on slavery. In addition, it is important to read books on all of the above, including works by West Indian writers, academic and non-academic on colonialism and imperialism from a Caribbean perspective, and visit monuments and structures within the U.K. which will help to give a clearer picture of the connection between Britain, its history, and The British Empire.

I invite the indigenous people of the United Kingdom to research their Imperial and colonial history from the West Indian perspective.

I am well aware that this post may engender much consternation on both sides of the racial divide.

That is a minor detail as far as I am concerned.

The greater issue is that a battle cannot be fought continuously with the same mundane strategies, and 'ancient weapons', then expect to achieve a different result.

I headed up this, and previous posts, "Black Lives Don't Matter".

The question is to such a statement - why?

 In my view, this is where the conversation, and  discussion, begins.

What we need is an open understanding of the innate racism that lies within each of us, and why, no matter how minor or dormant.

To achieve that understanding, and to move forward, we need to understand each other, and more importantly, our histories, and how it impacts the present, and how it will affect the way forward.

We all have the opportunity to gain that understanding.


Peace

Grace

Black Lives Don't Matter - The Rhodes Must Fall Campaign

Greetings,

Before I begin this post in earnest, I am well aware of the uproar it may bring. I am not perturbed in the slightest, because I do not believe a 'fight' should be taken on which does not make sense.

The Rhodes Must Fall Campaign by students at the University of Oxford is, no doubt, well intentioned.

Whether the University of Oxford agrees or not to the demands of the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign, I can assure you that the history of Cecil Rhodes will remain entrenched within the annals of Oriel College, and within the University itself.

As for the demands made to the University of Oxford administration by the Campaign to include removal of the offending statue and other articles, to make official, public, and permanent acknowledgements of colonial violence, full apologies for this, commitments to that, the establishment of whatever else with deadlines - I will leave all that right where it is. No matter what the University of Oxford administration says in response to the demands by the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign, the colonial, imperial, and exploitive past of Britain's history is the bedrock upon which the University is built.

Decolonising curriculum at the University ( which is another issue) is equivalent to decolonising the endemic racist and colonial mentality of Britain. Unless the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign is planning to step up its objective to advocate for the rebuilding and re-education of Britain to reflect an evenly balanced history for all, it is my view, the Campaign needs to take a step back to get a clear picture of what it is about. If change does happen in places, it will be for show, ineffective, and will make no difference to what exists now. Britain will not allow a cultural assault, be it educational or otherwise, on its own turf.

With that said, the enormous cultural  and economic assault on the African subcontinent by Britain and Europe, is still not understood, or more so, conveniently ignored by the intelligentsia, and indigenous blinkered citizens within British society. This should not be a forced issue, nor by demand. Both sides know what the issue(s) of contention are, and would be wise to work together to bring about a reconciliation of Imperial history.

The glorification of The British Empire, and reverence held for past British patriots of that era with questionable endeavours, deliberately blanks out African, Caribbean, Indian history respectively, and all placed under the shadow of The British Empire. Its stubborn resistance towards African history, by segregating it, dismissing it as irrelevant and non-existent, is descriptive of how black lives matter only in monetary terms, but not on an intellectual level. Today Black lives still don't matter, unless there is a specific purpose, or some usefulness which is not in the interest of the black man and woman.

The University of Oxford does not want to soil it's hands with Britain's corrupt colonial history. The same will apply to other British universities even if they agree to make gradual changes in specific curriculum, or with whatever else may arise.

Call me what you will. The truth needs to be told. However, I am aware that a person of my ethnic origin making such pronouncements will cause some readers of this post to feel very uncomfortable. So be it.

Furthermore, the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign needs to reconsider it's position.

This Campaign is doing nothing that is in accordance with The Black Lives Matter Movement. In my view it is doing the opposite very successfully. By the Campaign taking its chosen position,  it is, unintentionally, reinforcing the position of the University of Oxford to retain its founders, benefactors, and the cultural heritage of the University which will always take precedence over anything that comes up against it. This is why I have headed this post 'Black Lives Don't Matter' because the Campaign's action on this issue translates to just that.

What about the perpetual disproportionate number of black boys, and black men, who are subjected to Stop and Search? What about the disproportionate number of black men incarcerated in British prisons? What about the disproportionate number of black men who die while in police custody? What about the black men, and black women, who are murdered because of their colour? What about the disproportionate number of black boys, who are excluded from high school and their future blighted?  This is where effective change needs to take place, and where the emphasis of a campaign should be - to bring an end to the presumptuous mission to destroy the lives of our black children, black men, and black women.

Slavery and colonialism could have wiped out the black race, but it failed. However, look at what is happening now, and the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign is wasting time on superfluous nonsense.


I was born and raised in Britain. My parents were immigrants to Britain from Jamaica. I've seen racial conflict in Britain, and my parents have seen and lived the colonial, imperial, and exploitation of their island Jamaica under British colonial rule. However, one thing was, and is still sure. Neither my parents nor I were interested in changing Britain's landscape, nor its institutions. It was more important to us to never allow the imperial, colonial, racial prejudice, and false sense of superiority mindset of some of its indigenous people to psychologically undermine us as black people in any form, or any manner, whatsoever.

The late Cecil Rhodes is a part of British Imperial history. Demanding the removal of his statue will not change the past, neither will it help ethnic minorities overcome any race relations difficulties experienced, nor effectively change any position on The British Empire, slavery, imperialism and Colonalism at the University of Oxford. As regurgitating as it is to face that fact, this is the reality. Nevertheless, we can revisit the history of our people, dig it out and put it on display because the intelligentsia, and the ignorant among us, believe black people have no history. Their position is understandable as our history was swept under the carpet, or in some cases buried,  to give way for the European sanctified version which our people have been subjected to through teaching in the former Crown Colonies, and within Britain. We need to rise above the exploitation, colonialism, and imperialism experienced by our forefathers, and everything else associated with it. Build past it, build our history, be innovative, and move forward for real change.

Leave the University of Oxford to decide its own future. Removing the statue of Cecil Rhodes or any other controversial statue will not effect any constructive change for ethnic minorities at the University of Oxford, and within Britain, now nor in the future. Where there is no will to bring about real, effective, change, the situation will remain the same.

In the meantime, there are more constructive matters to be dealt with.

Peace

Grace

Black lives don't matter - the toppling of the Edward Colston statue

Greetings,

When a country has been built on the proceeds obtained by using human beings for labour without compensation, has never considered them as human beings, only tools to acquire enormous wealth for themselves, then it is believed one has the right to use those humans and their descendants in like manner for perpetuity.

Building a country and accruing wealth based on exploitation of human beings, and raping their women, and their lands, brings with it no conscience on the part of the inheritors of such wealth because they were not around when it all happened, and therefore place the blame on their ancestors. Convenient.

This history is passed on from generation to generation, to rich and poor, forming in the mind of the hearers that the black race, and any other non-white race is inferior, and is regarded as nothing. It is still an entrenched belief today within the U.K.

The toppling of the Edward Colston statue, slave trader, philanthropist, from its position in the Bristol Town Centre, is indicative of the anger felt by the black community towards a past Bristolian figure who profited from the sale of their ancestors of black African or black Caribbean origin.
The decision by the relevant authority to erect the statute, and the controversy that had risen over the years surrounding Edward Colston's involvement in the slave trade, sheds light on the fact that the Bristolian slave trader, philanthropist, is of greater significance than the innocent slaves which brought him profit. Yes, I agree, by his financial support
he brought in to being many wonderful social institutions etc. for the development of Bristol, but at a human price.


However, the contention I have with the toppling of the statue is that it is the malicious destruction of property which does not represent the cry of the Black Lives Matter Movement. It is bad enough to hear of the disproportionate criminal and incarceration rate of black men/women in the U.K., then see bandwagonists use the Movement to defy the law, by pulling down, causing destruction to, and defacing the statue under the pretence it is in the name of Black Lives Matter. It is an insult to the memory of the late George Floyd. Mr. Floyd was not a criminal.

My second bone of contention is, how dare these ignorant bandwagonists parade the statue in the streets like a spoil of conquest, then throw the statue in the harbour to disturb the spirit of my ancestors, and those of my fellow black brothers and sisters. I am glad the police were on spot to see where the statue was thrown into the harbour. I will never support idiotic bandwagonists who use a anti-racism protest, as an excuse, to carry out criminal activity. The criminal action of those idiots, I hope, will not reinforce yet again the view, that black lives don't matter. If it were possible, all of those responsible should be rounded up and persuaded to assist in retrieving the statue from the harbour. I want my ancestors to rest in peace.

I am in full support of The Black Lives Matter Movement, but what concerns me is the distortion of its true meaning, by publicity seeking opportunists with symbolic gesturing, who have not the slightest conviction of how it feels to be a disregarded item in a society due to the fact that one is of a black complexion.

The late Mr. Edward Colston is dead and gone, but his legacy lives on in Bristol, and with those who respect his memory. Within the ambit of the law, what are the black people of Bristol going to do to ensure that the legacy of THEIR ancestors lives on in Bristol too?

Peace

Grace

Once again - black lives don't matter

Greetings,

The way the media and politicians are giving sanctimonious attention to the death of George Floyd, an African-American, in the U.S., a newcomer to the issue of race relations would believe this is a totally new phenomenon, and a first time event.
The untimely deaths of black men, outside of medical reasons, seems to be a distasteful staple in terms of what is expected to happen to black men, and women, in society today. It is yet another black man's life lost needlessly.

'Black Lives Matter' says it all. The reality is though, black lives don't matter, and  have never mattered. Our lives and everything else we do is considered totally expendable. I dare any non-ethnic person to deny it. The painful fact of the matter is, we black folk must shut up, do as we are told, and work to produce profit, but not for ourselves. We should be grateful for the 'scraps' that we get and not complain, and if by perchance success comes our way, it is called in to question. If we protest against injustice we are delusional, trouble makers, and are seeking nothing more than to discombobulate society, white society that is. We are not supposed to be educated, only to achieve the bare minimum. If we are well educated we are regarded as uppity, think we know it all, and need to know our place.

The interesting part is that it's ok to use the black man/woman for what they know, and what is theirs by right for profit, and to benefit everybody else except the black race. The refusal of the black man/woman to accept societies 'expectations' of them is seen as being difficult, and God forbid if they stage a protest, and even worse, if it becomes disruptive, it is interpreted that they do not want to be governed by the rule of law.

History is testament to this form of exploitation.
The British Empire became the British Empire by exploiting the people of those countries which made up the empire, and the resources of their lands. Quite a number of these lands were predominantly of non-white natives. My parents lived the experience of Crown Colony on their Caribbean island home.  The retelling of their observations of Crown Colony were very enlightening. The United States learnt from the example of Britain, but not the covert, indirect, and denial approach. Let's not forget Europe 's
jumping on the bandwagon and each scrambling for their share of Africa.

I do not believe the U.K., the U.S.A., nor Europe, has the intention of creating any true, real, and lasting change on race relations in the true sense of the word. The law(s) on race relations in the U.K., as far as I am concerned, are just a patch over to silence the dissenters. The real movers and shakers of change are those resilient, 'don't matter' black men and women with their never ending persistence and audacity to 'climb over' the obstacles set in their way to stall or erase their progress, and uses it all as motivation to drive themselves on to their eventual success. They have no time to waste with many of the bench warming orators, occupying the seats of power, and who have absolutely no understanding whatsoever of what race relations is all about.

What concerns me, is when all this pretentiousness, sanctimoniousness, self-righteousness by the media, politicians, and whoever else, for the most part, on the death of George Floyd is over - what then?

Change?

Don't hold your breath.

Peace

Grace