Statue Toppling: On achieving fairness, respect, inclusion and justice in heritage-based activism

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

Around the globe, communities are seeking to understand what to do with statues and memorials of figures who committed human rights abuses linked to slavery and colonialism. Is it wrong to alter statues of problematic historical figures, or is it a requirement of justice? How can we address challenging heritage in a way that brings communities together, rather than dividing them? This unique course is taught by one of the leading voices in the debates over Edward Colston in Bristol, UK, which culminated in the statue being toppled in June 2020 and dropped in the Bristol harbour. The course will focus in equal parts on the philosophy and practice of heritage-based activism, with concrete activities for students to use to explore their own history and heritage, and shape positive change for the future. This is an intensive 1-credit course that meets three times a week for the first four weeks of the semester.