It's a shame it came to this. I think the scenes re: the media images were quite confronting and those news bullets simply portray reckless anarchy to some and justice to some others. And it ignores full context. Well meaning people of sound judgement have been campaigning for years to have Colston removed from their public space informing Bristolians that he was a total twat. And personally, I don't gives 2 ****s for those that say it was considered OK at the time, it's a bygone age etc. Besides there was a voice challenging slavery in his time by free thinkers. There were various political offshoots arose at the time of the Civil War including a group who lead the political debate calling for 'freedom for all', though considered as radicals at the time and possibly 'fringe', it is reasonable to assume it would have come to the attention of powerful man and eminent slaver such as Colston. So he knew he was a ****? Well the argument of inhumanity might have challenged him.
You know, people getting offended by the slightest thing and desperately trying to interpret calls for equality as an attack on them.
Black Power is a political slogan and a name which is given to various associated ideologies which aim to achieve self-determination for people of African descent.[1] It is primarily, but not exclusively, used by African Americans in the United States.[2][3] The Black Power movement was prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, emphasizing racial pride and the creation of black political and cultural institutions to nurture and promote black collective interests[4] and advance black values. The basis of Black Power is various ideologies that aim at achieving self-determination for black people in the U.S. Black power dictates that blacks create their own identities despite being subjected to pre-existing societal factors.[5] "Black Power" expresses a range of political goals, from defence against racial oppression, to the establishment of social institutions and a self-sufficient economy, including black-owned bookstores, cooperatives, farms, and media.[6][7][8][9] However, the movement has been criticised for alienating itself from the mainstream civil rights movement, for its apparent support of racial segregation, and for constituting black superiority over other races.[10][11] Taken from wiki, but I thought that I'd add it as one explanation of black power / black fist
As a general question to everyone can I ask if this is a fair comparison .... .... Colston was around roughly at the same time as William, Lord Lambton who suggested to Wilberforce that regulation of the slave trade might be better than abolition. His son was part of the British government that subjugated people in Canada where many protesters were publicly hung. He went there to advise the government about how best to organise the natives and locals and how best to exploit the British Empire. The Lambton family were fabulously wealthy mine owners who, in keeping with the times, paid their workers a pittance and paid scant attention to the safety and health of the miners and their families. A huge monument to John Lambton, on Penshaw Hill, was built in his honour, which looked down on the mining communities. So, as this is a tribute to a man who was responsible for directing the lives of people around the globe, and exploiting the miners, is it about time that it was pulled down and removed from the SAFC badge? And, if the people hung in Canada, who were governed by Britain, as well as the miners had been black would BLM be targeting it?
Are these BLM activists heading off to Africa to challenge their history as part of the slave trade. Or asking why there’s so much hunger and starvation in a place that has received decades of outside help. I very much doubt it because they’re better off where they are now in free democratic countries where they can Moan about what happened 300 years ago then head off home to a fully central heated house with a glass of free running water while sitting down to a plate full of dinner. Arseholes.
Sorry - couldna give a flying **** if this sounds patronising you do not know history nor the economics of development for that matter Yes of course no one has any food or clean running water in Africa
Unlike Londonderry, I do not know a great deal about 'Radical Jack', I think he spent a lot of time in Canada and wrote a report saying colonies should be self governing...and supported Earl Grey (PM?) His father in law in the reform acts. I have no idea about his treatment of miners. Now some Bishops of Durham on the other hand were right bastards!
So African countries didn’t sell slaves? And it’s blatantly obvious what I’m talking about with regards to hunger.
What I've said about the public hangings is correct and that Lambton was at the forefront of the British government of the colonies and all that entails. So, based on that should we be looking at taking the monument down? What did he do for the people of Durham that merits such glorification? I'm sure he did some good things but so did Colston.
I need to point out that I’m not anti racist or owt like that. I just think a lot of these activists (On any subject) are usually full of **** and just want an excuse to cause havoc and hide behind the I’m a liberal flag.
Sorry mate, not good enough, if you're not marching alongside them you're part of the problem. 'Silence is violence' apparently. It seems that if you disagree with anything it automatically makes you a massive racist.
Tbh I do not necessarily disagree with hanging...its just too often the justice system gets it wrong, and innocents suffer..Radical Jack, in true Sunderland style(ie we were on Cromwell's side, unlike N'cle on Royalist) liked to buck the system Again tbh what you say about him I take as true... although unlike Coulson which is clear cut the view of him now may be open to discussion. As has been mentioned Washington was a slave owner... Imho these discussions are healthy..to understand where we are now we need to understand how we got here and who/what was good and who/what was evil! The Penshaw monument (Durham's Taj Mahal) and the more recent Angel of the North, are potent symbols and there I'ds nothing wrong with remembering what their origin's were
You’re Right mind I hear these protester types asking what have you done to help this that and the other. Well mate for a start I just go about my normal day working and not trying to add to the worlds problems. I don’t think they’re interested in middle of the road discussion though.
Good response mate although I doubt many people have a clue about why the Penshaw monument is there. I always look out for it, when I go back up home, but I just like the look of it. If it was for all the miners killed underground I'd find it a potent symbol ... ... but not for a family who made vast fortunes from exploiting them. Ironically it's suffered considerable damage, over the years, from mining subsidence. Revenge of the black fellas!
