Analysis of the Removal of Statues and the Black Lives Matter Movement

This report evaluates the situation of the Black Lives Matter movement and the removal of statues of imperialist and racist leaders. It presents three options for dealing with the situation, including putting down the listed statues, transferring them to museums, or keeping them as they are. The report also provides recommendations for addressing the main issues.

Communication Skills

Table of Contents
Executive summary:.........................................................................................................................4
Introduction:.....................................................................................................................................1
Analysis:..........................................................................................................................................1
Article 1 (Oxford college backs removal of Cecil Rhodes statue)..............................................1
Article-2 ( On the removal of statues):........................................................................................2
Article-3 ( Tearing down history):...............................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

Executive summary:
The report will address the situation as well as main issues that has occurred in the case
study. This report will evaluate the various option available for reducing the stated issues in most
effective manner. In last, the report will recommend the solution in order to address the main
issues.

Introduction:
The unfortunate death of George Floyd by American police person has again reignited
the problems related to racist as well as imperial cultural practises. This incident has made Black
Lives Matter moment for the aim to put down the statues of old dignitaries who are considered
foundation for the growth of imperial and slavery culture. The situation has raised the voice of
revolt across the territory of UK regarding removal of old statues, plaques as well as old
buildings that represents black history and the culture of rich and white people. It has also
increased the voice for toppling the statue of Cecil Rhodes situated in the campus of Oxford
college. He is remembered as the person who gained immensely from the unethical and
exploitative practises on the people of South Africa. The following report will show three
options in order to deal with this situation in effective manner. The first option will be to put
down the listed statues of individuals who were involved in exploitative and unethical practises.
In addition to this, the second option can be to transfer those statues to museums in order to show
common people the glimpse of history that promoted dark practises. Moreover, the third last
alternative can be to keep these statues as it is on the old places. In last, the report will also
present certain recommendations after properly assessing the above three possible solutions.
Analysis:
Article 1 (Oxford college backs removal of Cecil Rhodes statue)
The Black Lives Matter moment has once again turned in the fire among people towards
eradication of colonial and exploitative practises. This moment has made students of Oxford
University's Oriel college to put down the statue of Victorian Imperialist Cecil Rhodes who is
said to be the supporter of imperial culture rules and policies(Gin and et.al., 2017). The students
of Oriel university opines that this statue of imperialist should be removed immediately due to its
reflection of evil image and values. In the favour of students, the spokesperson of university has
agreed with the point of view raised by the students of university. He said that university is
determined for achieving diversity in thoughts which can move beyond the western Canon as
well as can assist the minority ethnics or black or Asian group of students and staff. In addition
to this, the Simukai Chigudu, who is African politics professor in Oxford University and also
active member of Rhodes Must Fall campaign showed positive attitude for removing the statues
which reflects the past image of slavery and violent actions. He states that university needs to
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develop anti-racist rules and should also cover the past colonial and imperial incidents in the
course curriculum. Furthermore, the Robert Gildea, professor of Modern history and also various
other heads of Oxford University has also reflected positive reaction against the removal of
Rhodes statue from campus area. On the other hand, Layla Moran, the western west MP has told
that the statue should not lay down into pieces but it should be moved to museums so that British
people can experience the history of Britain by going to museums. The Black Lives Matter
campaign has once again imposed pressure against Vice Chancellor of university, Louise
Richardson to give favourable statements about solving this issue in appropriate
manner(Meyerhoff, 2019).
Article-2 ( On the removal of statues):
The situation of Black Lives Matter movement has again put angriness among different
parties to topple down the statues of imperialist and racist leaders such as Edward Colston and
Rhodes. The criticism for destroying statues like Edward Colston was also strong as the toppling
of their statues may result in eraser of historical values as well as culture. It was also said that
famous personalities like Winston Churchill was also imperial supporter and racist towards
Indian people but was also remembered as an ambitious wartime leader who supported Britain
during war times. Apart from this, the other man George Washington was also remembered for
his actions making advanced library and democracy on west but on the negative note he was also
the person who greatly pays importance for adopting slavery and imperial culture. This situation
reflects that even respected celebrities have also played key role in favouring slavery culture in
their respective tenures(Acker and Donovan, 2019). The student journalist has opined that
putting down the statues of racist persons does not guarantee the removal of racist behaviour
among people but the efforts should be to take down the thinking process of people for adopting
anti-racist actions and attitude. These statues are made without thinking the promotion of racist
and imperial actions and behaviour of people. The large number of people still feels that by
removing old statues they are rewriting the past values without focusing on changing the slavery
culture or thinking. But in reality, the people are only presenting their inaccurate knowledge
about immoral figures and statues(Hier, 2017). It was also illustrated that it is better to re-think
about the connection with old imperial culture and it is compulsory for every British person to
come out with old imperial mindset. Moreover, there are also memorials or statues which
represents slavery culture but also shows the positive side behind their other actions. For
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example, the Colston statue can be transferred to museums in which people can gain necessary
insight about past historical incidents. On the other side, the memorials whose past is pretty
complex to understand are shifted to museums or can be leave as it is in the original place. This
may promote the good as well as bad behaviours. By adopting this strategy, this can result into
the development of peaceful world for living(Mina, 2019).
Article-3 ( Tearing down history):
The anger arise from Black Lives Matter movement has destroyed the famous statue of
the Slave trader Edward Colston. This situation has inspired anti-racist groups to re-evaluate the
old statues all over the Britain. This now raised an issue to remove the memorial window at the
Cambridge College. It has raised a revolt by the anti- racist communities as they thought that all
the old statues situated shows only only imperial culture which should be destroyed as early as
possible. It was argued that Caius college lays importance to former biologist Ronald Fisher who
was also seen inclined towards adopting unethical and imperial culture(Bold, 2019). The
information was gathered that those point of views in favour of imperialistic activities were
common at that era which can not become a strong base for eradication of old statues of
dignitaries. In addition to this, the problems connected with Rhodes Must Fall Campaign is that
his racist behaviour was not a truth as according to Former Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan,
the Rhodes has also done good work by allowing large number of students to take advantage
perks of gaining education. Moreover, the UK government colleges minister Michelle Donelan
has gave negative statements regarding fall of the famous statues like Rhodes. She commented
that the action is very short sited which does not assist in re-writing historical values on own
thinkings. The Vice-chancellor of Oxford University was also against with the decision of
toppling down statues as she opined that hiding the past will not provide any solutions to the
problems. Apart from this, she also argued that it is crucial to understand that thinking level of
past is quite different as compared with present times. The professor said in warning expression
that destroying old statues just for satisfying personal demands will only harm the historical
culture in bad way(Chistophers, 2018). It should be also analysed that most famous buildings and
statues like pyramid are built by the exploitation of poor people. However, there are noble
emotions behind their decisions but this early decision of anti-racist groups can demolish the old
historical golden culture completely.
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Conclusion
From the above evaluation, it has been analysed that old buildings that signifies the past
of imperial values needs to protected from the anti-racist communities of country. It was
assessed that demolition of old heritage statues will not clear the problems of racism in current
society. It was also assessed that old buildings should not be seen with negative feelings but can
also be seen according to positive contributions made in the past. In relation to this, it was also
evaluated that its not fair idea to re-write historical values on term but it should be good idea to
re-think the past slavery and imperial culture which can not be tolerated in present times.
Furthermore, it was also evaluated that statues which represents controversial history can be
transferred to museums so that British people can gain insight about past historical incidents.
Recommendation
After evaluating the above arguments, it has been recommended that ancient statues and
buildings needs to protected from any violent activities. The old statues should be viewed as
representation of past culture and need not to be seen with negative and prejudice feelings. The
demolition of old statues that shows glimpse of imperial culture can not provide solution for
current problems(Richardson, 2020). In relation to this, the re-writing of history as per own
values also should be strongly stopped as it will harm the old values of statues and building.
Moreover, for solving racism issues, it will be better to transform the minds of people without
changing the original place of statues.
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References
Books and Journal
Gin and et.al., 2017. Racialized aggressions and social media on campus. Journal of College
Student Development, 58(2), pp.159-174.
Meyerhoff, E., 2019. Beyond education: Radical studying for another world. U of Minnesota
Press.
Acker, A. and Donovan, J., 2019. Data craft: a theory/methods package for critical internet
studies. Information, Communication & Society, 22(11), pp.1590-1609.
Mina, A.X., 2019. Memes to movements: How the world's most viral media is changing social
protest and power. Beacon Press.
Bold, M.R., 2019. Inclusive young adult fiction: authors of colour in the United Kingdom.
Springer.
Chistophers, B., 2018. The new enclosure: The appropriation of public land in neoliberal Britain.
Verso Books.
Richardson, A.V., 2020. Bearing witness while Black: African Americans, smartphones, and the
new protest# journalism. Oxford University Press, USA.
Hier, S., 2017. Good moral panics? Normative ambivalence, social reaction, and coexisting
responsibilities in everyday life. Current Sociology, 65(6), pp.867-885.
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