Thank you for this. Since the start of the pandemic I have struggled to read anything at all, this piece is so wonderfully written that I was able to read it all, and to feel my neurons spark.
Thanks for sharing this Frances, so interesting. In my naivety, I like to hope that the artefacts 'on loan' will never be returned and museums are just biding their time in the hope that British politicians and international law will finally change and agree to letting these objects go back home where they should be (and that the infrastructure is in place to protectively house these artefacts in their place of origin). The discourse does seem to be shifting, cause for some optimism, I think!
Thank you Juliette. These illuminations really help me navigate what I find a tremendously complex, confusing and crucial expansion of my field of understanding.
Thanks Al. It's so complicated and toxic and difficult but I really feel we have to open up the space to confront whiteness and unravel it. We can't ever move on if we don't - I know you know x
I'm glad you've written this Juliette, thanks. I've been paralleling these wonderings for some years now, particularly here at my mum's place in Andalucia which is thick with Nigerian creativity. She too paid generously, I know, and most everything here was created for sale.
But there are one or two objects with more vibe, and I've been exploring ways of returning them to, where? Still looking out for possible routes, now I write that I'm reminded that there's someone in Granada who may be able to assist.
The new relationships that some museums are beginning to foster with gifts and loans as opposed to the old style collecting (read rape and pillage) gives hope and the rising of spirits. Very good to hear, thank you for that.
I've felt that white privilege in so many forms ever since I was a teenager and first trod Nigerian soil, so it's a bit of a relief that the conversation's beginning to swim into mainstream awareness. I feel for all our non-white friends and the excess load of getting-their-white-friends-with-the-programme (or not) on top of the load they already carry. It's our job to do, as it's the job of genuine allies of any inequality who stand on the side of greater benefit, power &etc.
As a point of interest, my half-Chilean sons have also experienced the othering. It doesn't take much, as we know.
And in this ever paradoxical world, one of the main pillars of capitalism is slavery in all its forms. The grimly obvious racism, the sexism , the wage slavery, the more newly obvious health slavery perhaps.
So much to begin to unpack. I'm here, I'll put the kettle on, let's do it bit by bit.
The events of the last week have left me struggling to make sense of my whiteness(&maleness) and what it must mean to others. Thank you for these words. It’s exactly this Juliette -
“But as we look to a dangerous, uncertain future which has been created precisely by a past of rabid nationalist acquisition, the possibility for change lies in crossing that abyss with all its messy contradiction and risk. What other choice do we have?”
Thank you for this. Since the start of the pandemic I have struggled to read anything at all, this piece is so wonderfully written that I was able to read it all, and to feel my neurons spark.
How fantastic! I'm really glad it's connected like this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts ✨️
Your thought-provoking writing reminded me of this Guardian article written in 2022 by Sarah Aitken. Thought it may be of interest.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/19/stolen-tasmanian-aboriginal-artefacts-are-finally-home-but-theres-a-catch-theyre-only-on-loan?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Thanks for sharing this Frances, so interesting. In my naivety, I like to hope that the artefacts 'on loan' will never be returned and museums are just biding their time in the hope that British politicians and international law will finally change and agree to letting these objects go back home where they should be (and that the infrastructure is in place to protectively house these artefacts in their place of origin). The discourse does seem to be shifting, cause for some optimism, I think!
Thank you Juliette. These illuminations really help me navigate what I find a tremendously complex, confusing and crucial expansion of my field of understanding.
Thanks Al. It's so complicated and toxic and difficult but I really feel we have to open up the space to confront whiteness and unravel it. We can't ever move on if we don't - I know you know x
Indeed Juliette. Let's just hope it's not another 'liberal dead end'...
It's not a dead end. People are just frightened of saying the wrong thing.
So it takes a very long time to move the dialogue on. I've been working on this for more than 25 years...
Maybe you could recommend a read that would help me understand this. Who's frightened? Who/what is the dialogue serving?
I'm glad you've written this Juliette, thanks. I've been paralleling these wonderings for some years now, particularly here at my mum's place in Andalucia which is thick with Nigerian creativity. She too paid generously, I know, and most everything here was created for sale.
But there are one or two objects with more vibe, and I've been exploring ways of returning them to, where? Still looking out for possible routes, now I write that I'm reminded that there's someone in Granada who may be able to assist.
The new relationships that some museums are beginning to foster with gifts and loans as opposed to the old style collecting (read rape and pillage) gives hope and the rising of spirits. Very good to hear, thank you for that.
I've felt that white privilege in so many forms ever since I was a teenager and first trod Nigerian soil, so it's a bit of a relief that the conversation's beginning to swim into mainstream awareness. I feel for all our non-white friends and the excess load of getting-their-white-friends-with-the-programme (or not) on top of the load they already carry. It's our job to do, as it's the job of genuine allies of any inequality who stand on the side of greater benefit, power &etc.
As a point of interest, my half-Chilean sons have also experienced the othering. It doesn't take much, as we know.
And in this ever paradoxical world, one of the main pillars of capitalism is slavery in all its forms. The grimly obvious racism, the sexism , the wage slavery, the more newly obvious health slavery perhaps.
So much to begin to unpack. I'm here, I'll put the kettle on, let's do it bit by bit.
Love this Lindsay, thank you 🙏 Let's do this x
The events of the last week have left me struggling to make sense of my whiteness(&maleness) and what it must mean to others. Thank you for these words. It’s exactly this Juliette -
“But as we look to a dangerous, uncertain future which has been created precisely by a past of rabid nationalist acquisition, the possibility for change lies in crossing that abyss with all its messy contradiction and risk. What other choice do we have?”
Thanks Bob, I'm so glad it resonated. There's so much to unpick, it's good to keep talking, keep untangling.