It is imperative that we realise how problematic the legacy of Edward Colston is and how this is associated with his statue, in order to understand why it was removed during an anti-racism protest in Bristol on June 7th 2020.
Sunday 7th June, 2020
Video: Robin Connolly
The statue of Edward Colston was torn down, as shown by the above video, and hurled into Bristol’s floating harbour during a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest on June 7th 2020. The demonstration, which sought to mobilise support against police brutality and racial inequality, occurred in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police on May 25th 2020. BLM protests surged globally following the death of George Floyd, as demonstrators united in opposition of the deep structural realities of racism that impinges Black citizens on a daily basis. It necessitated the world to reflect on issues of race and racial discrimination and thus the statue of Edward Colston was thrust to the centre of the dispute. [See reference no.1]
The Colston statue was sculpted by John Cassidy and erected in 1895. The inscription engraved on its plaque commemorates Edward Colston’s philanthropy, as ‘one of the most virtuous and wise sons’ of the city. Colston made munificent donations to many institutions across Britain in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, including churches, schools and almshouses. A sermon held in All Saints Church in 1783 celebrated that Colston donated a total of £76, 325.00 to institutions across Britain. He bestowed the majority of his money to Bristol, making endowments to 10 churches, 4 schools, and 2 almshouses. Colston made significant contributions to the city of Bristol, hence much past and present cityscape bears his name. [ref no.2]
Photo: Rebecca Harrison
Whilst the statue glorified Colston’s benevolence, it completely overlooked that he was a slave trader and merchant in Bristol’s transatlantic slave trade. He was a member of the Royal African Company (RAC) between 1680 and 1692. The company held a monopoly on English slave trading until 1698 and Colston served as the deputy governor between 1689 and 1690. Between 1680 and 1692, during Colston’s involvement, the RAC transported 84,498 enslaved Africans from West Africa and a total of 19,341 died during the voyage. Colston accumulated vast wealth from his participation in the slave trade, therefore his generous endowments to city institutions were financed by the institution of slavery. [ref no.3]
The statue is problematic because it obscures historical truth. Though Colston was a benevolent benefactor, he was also a sinister slave trader. Until its removal, on June 7th 2020, the statue celebrated Britain’s colonial past and implicitly symbolised white supremacy. It was incredibly destructive to the identity of Black Britons, hence it became central to debates around racism in the summer.
Some questions to think about:
The statue of Edward Colston had been a part of the city’s urban fabric for 125 years. If it was not toppled, would it ever have been removed?
Do you think the statue should have been removed altogether?
Prior to its fall, do you think it would have been enough for the city to re-contextualise the statue, shedding light on Colston’s dual legacy?
Feedback always welcome! Comment what you think below, or head over to the padlet to share your ideas!
For all relevant literature included in this post, please look here under the title, ‘Colston, his statue and dual legacy.’