I cannot tell you how important it is for Britain to properly reckon with its history of #Colonialism.
It needs to be done.
And yes, if we do it properly, it will hurt.
But without acknowledging the suffering of others, the racism will only fester (as with David Starkey).
/1
It needs to be done.
And yes, if we do it properly, it will hurt.
But without acknowledging the suffering of others, the racism will only fester (as with David Starkey).
/1
As a scholar of African politics and civil wars, I’ve always found it surprising that Britain doesn’t teach its own history in a way that acknowledges the suffering it imposed on others. That has got to change.
The truth is: No one should have been surprised by #MauMau.
/2
The truth is: No one should have been surprised by #MauMau.
/2
As violent and chaotic as America is right now, it is also trying to have a frank and painful conversation about race. That is GOOD. Many people had to die to get here.
Britain isn’t America. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem. #BLMUK
/3
Britain isn’t America. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem. #BLMUK
/3
To everyone outside Britain, it’s clear as day that a major part of the problem is rooted in #Colonialism and empire.
Harry and Meghan are spot on.
We need to talk about this. We need to acknowledge the intergenerational harms we have caused. We need to apologise.
/4
Harry and Meghan are spot on.
We need to talk about this. We need to acknowledge the intergenerational harms we have caused. We need to apologise.
/4
Others have done it and Britain can too.
Canada convened a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to acknowledge the trauma imposed on indigenous communities from residential schools (children ripped away from families, many were abused). It was ‘cultural genocide’.
/5
Canada convened a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to acknowledge the trauma imposed on indigenous communities from residential schools (children ripped away from families, many were abused). It was ‘cultural genocide’.
/5
Canadians needed to know this. Let me be clear: No one wanted to know. But we needed to accept that our government was complicit.
Because it was impossible to understand the problems in Canada’s indigenous communities without acknowledging our collective responsibility.
/6
Because it was impossible to understand the problems in Canada’s indigenous communities without acknowledging our collective responsibility.
/6
The problems of British colonialism are different. But its legacy lives on in how we teach and glorify empire without recognising what a violent enterprise it was.
Harry and Meghan have opened the door to something transformative. Let’s cross the threshold together.
/7
Harry and Meghan have opened the door to something transformative. Let’s cross the threshold together.
/7
