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.
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
