The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others have led to massive protests across the United States calling for social justice in the name of Black Lives Matter. The destruction of Confederate memorials depicting white supremacists and slave owners has become a central issue in these protests. In recent years, protestors from Paris to Cape Town have made similar demands to remove monuments with roots in colonialism, imperialism, and systemic racism. This global movement highlights fundamental debates surrounding cultural preservation, notions of global heritage and ownership, and the public sphere. How do we make decisions about these monuments and places that are inclusive and representative of multiple perspectives?
Join World Monuments Fund (WMF) for a virtual discussion with British-Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, social historian of twentieth-century Europe Dr. Joshua Arthurs, and visual artist, public speaker and performer based in Cape Town, South Africa, Sethembile Msezane. Moderated by WMF President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur.
This live virtual event, The Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives on the Future of Monuments with Difficult Pasts, will take place on Friday, October 30th at 2PM EST.
Next, check out Brooklyn Grand Army Plaza’s History as a Site of Protest and Honor