After People Are Conflicted On Whether The Slave Trader Statue Should’ve Been Removed, Banksy Offers A Brilliant Solution To End The Argument
Last Sunday, after protesters in Bristol, England decided to tear down the already defaced statue of a well-known slave trader, Edward Colston, and throw it into the harbor, a heated debate was sparked. While many people cheered as the statue of a man who, back in the day, was responsible for transporting about 100,000 slaves from Africa to the Americas was toppled and drowned, others had conflicting opinions. Some described the act as the erasure of history that is important to remember, while others condemned the protesters for the illegal actions they took part in.
Image credits: PA Media
The statue caused a bit of splash both literally and figuratively, as opinions both from political leaders and regular people started flowing. Clearly, some common ground needs to be found to resolve the matter.
Image credits: banksy
As it turns out, there’s a rather simple solution to end the controversy surrounding the toppling of the statue and it comes from the prominent street artist Banksy, who often uses his art to share commentary on politics and social issues. His pitch is rather simple: bring back the statue, put it back on its pedestal, but upgrade it with statues of protesters armed with ropes in the action of taking down the slave trader’s statue. According to the artist, this would be the best way to have this “famous day commemorated.”
Some internet users really liked this idea
And some of them not as much…
50Kviews
Share on FacebookWho is "conflicted?" Racists? You can remember history and not exalt demons, especially at taxpayer expense.
Pretending like it never happened instead of facing our past is so classic western civilization rich white people mentality it could get a cameo in Friends.
Load More Replies...Great idea. But this does not "End The Slaver Trader Statue Argument". Argument never stops: e.g. should the defacing paint be removed, let wither in the sun, or be made permanent? (Edit, thanks BP for revising the title - absolute text forms just cause controversy :))
Keep the paint and let the community refresh it when necessary.
Load More Replies...Those statues should have been torn down decades ago. Or, we stick a banana on it and call it art. I wonder how long till people realise that this guy's only true work of art is pushing the boundaries of what is considered art.
Destroying statues and monuments is not a manifestation of power, but a silly game between those with power and those without it. It’s a display of helplessness, a mindless regurgitation of a brainless mob. And no one with true power cares. Politicians allow the crowds to do it because it doesn’t change anything, doesn’t threaten the system. Instead of blowing the topic out of proportion and making moronic arguments about whether the person who doesn’t agree with destroying monuments is or is not a racist, call for a referendum, vote in elections, make demands to your governments about things that truly need to change in order to save this value that has already been generated out of George Floyd’s murder. It’s been two months since the UK cut carbon as its energy source. 40% of UK’s energy now comes from renewable sources. It took over 30 years of commitment, education, awareness, culture, and a system of legal tools. It did not take mobs destroying coal-mines and oil rigs. Be serious.
History is written in books and embedded in human minds, dare to topple that?
It is a fine line. Here in the US, we do not want to glorify slavery for sure. But we also must not forget what happens when we are divided. Both are ugly. We are better together than we are against one another.
I hope gurvinder and leah weren't part of the group claiming that the statue should be left up because it commemerates history. If so, that's a very hypocritical point of view. To gurvinder: I wonder if it will set up a bad example for the coming generations, they will resort to prejudice and hate? To leah: Colston didn't deserve a statue of himself XD he's part of the racism problem.
It does commemorate history, just not the part of history they want everyone to believe it does. They are not celebrations of heroes, regardless of what the local elementary school might be indoctrinating them with. They were build to reinforce the superiority of white people who felt threatened by black people having any rights at all in post-reconstruction south. Sickeningly, they worked.
Load More Replies...In that case we shloud also destroyed all statues of people from time when woman had no rights because they Don do anything about it
I am not a British subject so they can do whatever they want with statues....but I bet the government will have the first and last say so. I have no idea why the statue was built or who he was.
Who defends a statue and not the people who want it to come down? People have been trying for years in vain to have the statue taken down. No one is listening. They have every right to tear it down. I bet when Suddam Husain's statue came down or when hitlers came down that was ok w u but not this one that causes so much pain w it's violent history? Why? Bc u just don't care about black people? That's a true racist
Load More Replies...You are a conspiracy theorist. The Jewish people were part of the huge Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape. Where the hell are u getting your crazy info?
Load More Replies...Who is "conflicted?" Racists? You can remember history and not exalt demons, especially at taxpayer expense.
Pretending like it never happened instead of facing our past is so classic western civilization rich white people mentality it could get a cameo in Friends.
Load More Replies...Great idea. But this does not "End The Slaver Trader Statue Argument". Argument never stops: e.g. should the defacing paint be removed, let wither in the sun, or be made permanent? (Edit, thanks BP for revising the title - absolute text forms just cause controversy :))
Keep the paint and let the community refresh it when necessary.
Load More Replies...Those statues should have been torn down decades ago. Or, we stick a banana on it and call it art. I wonder how long till people realise that this guy's only true work of art is pushing the boundaries of what is considered art.
Destroying statues and monuments is not a manifestation of power, but a silly game between those with power and those without it. It’s a display of helplessness, a mindless regurgitation of a brainless mob. And no one with true power cares. Politicians allow the crowds to do it because it doesn’t change anything, doesn’t threaten the system. Instead of blowing the topic out of proportion and making moronic arguments about whether the person who doesn’t agree with destroying monuments is or is not a racist, call for a referendum, vote in elections, make demands to your governments about things that truly need to change in order to save this value that has already been generated out of George Floyd’s murder. It’s been two months since the UK cut carbon as its energy source. 40% of UK’s energy now comes from renewable sources. It took over 30 years of commitment, education, awareness, culture, and a system of legal tools. It did not take mobs destroying coal-mines and oil rigs. Be serious.
History is written in books and embedded in human minds, dare to topple that?
It is a fine line. Here in the US, we do not want to glorify slavery for sure. But we also must not forget what happens when we are divided. Both are ugly. We are better together than we are against one another.
I hope gurvinder and leah weren't part of the group claiming that the statue should be left up because it commemerates history. If so, that's a very hypocritical point of view. To gurvinder: I wonder if it will set up a bad example for the coming generations, they will resort to prejudice and hate? To leah: Colston didn't deserve a statue of himself XD he's part of the racism problem.
It does commemorate history, just not the part of history they want everyone to believe it does. They are not celebrations of heroes, regardless of what the local elementary school might be indoctrinating them with. They were build to reinforce the superiority of white people who felt threatened by black people having any rights at all in post-reconstruction south. Sickeningly, they worked.
Load More Replies...In that case we shloud also destroyed all statues of people from time when woman had no rights because they Don do anything about it
I am not a British subject so they can do whatever they want with statues....but I bet the government will have the first and last say so. I have no idea why the statue was built or who he was.
Who defends a statue and not the people who want it to come down? People have been trying for years in vain to have the statue taken down. No one is listening. They have every right to tear it down. I bet when Suddam Husain's statue came down or when hitlers came down that was ok w u but not this one that causes so much pain w it's violent history? Why? Bc u just don't care about black people? That's a true racist
Load More Replies...You are a conspiracy theorist. The Jewish people were part of the huge Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape. Where the hell are u getting your crazy info?
Load More Replies...
140
35