Thread by @Sparkandco_

As many of you know by now #QueenElizabethII has died at the age of 96, she was the longest reigning monarch in British history, and the second longest recorded of any monarch of a sovereign country in history. Her passing is complicated for many, here's a thread of why that is⬇️

1) #QueenElizabethII represented the monarchy, an institution that led to the inception of The British Empire, which through the act of colonisation led to the death and destruction of racialised peoples land and culture ⬇️

2) Communities experiencing marginalisation have been taught to revere the Queen, to protect the Queen and to view the Queen as being divine. This royalist ideology is forced upon us through education, politics, religion and the media. ⬇️

3) #QueenElizabethII never acknowledged the monarchy's historical role in supporting the enslavement of Black people and the indentured servitude of racialised people, working class people and Irish people. ⬇️

4) An interview with the first Black member of the royal family highlighted race issues in the royal family which were never addressed. ⬇️

5) #QueenElizabethII protected her son Prince Andrew who was accused of sexually assaulting a minor. ⬇️

6) #QueenElizabethII and The Royal Family denied the existence of her disabled cousins Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon, who were institutionalised after the death of their father John Herbert Bowes-Lyon. ⬇️

7) In schools we are hardly ever taught about communities who have faced adversity and fought for the human rights we have today, instead, what seems to be pushed upon us are the endeavours of #TheRoyalFamily. So much of our early schooling is centred around this.⬇️

8) Queen Elizabeth's passing is complicated for all the the above reasons and more, and as such, must be approached with nuance. Some may feel the need to grieve because they have been taught that this is the right thing to do. ⬇️

9) Others will recognise the harm #QueenElizabethII has presided over and will not be mourning her death, and many will feel grieve but also acknowledge and feel anger at the harm she and the British Institution caused. ⬇️

10) At Spark & Co. we acknowledge #QueenElizabethII passing, but we are grieving for all those communities that have been harmed because of the existence of the monarchy.