Edward Colston’s damaged statue was revealed in a display in M Shed, Bristol, on 15 March. Nice to know: your podcaster Ivonne Smit is cited in the Sunday Times about this topic.
Reveiling of Edward Colston’s statue
The topical subject of last Sunday’s article by Mr Tomiwa Omolade is in the domain of Discutafel’s interest in social sustainability. I met Mr Omolade by chance in M Shed, a museum in Bristol. We talked on March 15, which was just one day after Edward Colston’s heavily damaged statue had been revealed in a remarkable display in the museum.
Slave trade, philantrophy
Since several years, people have been discussing slave trade and its effect on today’s society. Successful 18th century merchant Edward Colston, for instance, was also a philanthropist. Was he a good or a bad guy? Or both? And what should we do with his inheritance? Bristol’s concert venue, Colston Hall, was renamed Bristol Beacon along with several other locations that held his name.
Nuance, please
I told Mr Omaloda that the debate over Colston needs nuance. I would like to keep the conversations open. Let’s repect the thoughts and traditions of all sides and discuss the questions which arise together. I really think this is a sensible way to deal with complex social issues.
Links
- New display at M Shed (Bristol Museums, of which M Shed is a part)
- Edward Colston (Wikipedia)
- Edward Colston’s safe in a museum, but in future let’s talk before we topple (The Sunday Times, 17 March 2024. Sorry, article link accessable for Sunday Times subscribers only)
- Decolosation (Bristol Museums)
