Cliff,
I agree with both your sentiments. I think that it is a step forward that there
is finally a statue in a public space to Mary Seacole but I also think location is
crucially important in the battle for Britain's 'national story' and the place of
black citizens within it. As long as there is an absence of commemoration the
Black and Asian presence in British history in public spaces then a very white
history is what future generations will always be 'seen' by the public and their
view of the past constructed for them.
Don't despair though, there has been a painfully slow creeping process of
commemoration of black figures in public spaces. See my article, 'Monument
Mania?' in People and their Pasts, 9Palgrave 2000), abridged version attached
http://www.untoldlondon.org.uk/news/ART66277.html
There are of course, already monuments as such of Mary. The 1869 painting
by Albert Charles Challen acquired by the National Portrait Gallery and the
1871 bust by Victor Gleichen at the Institute and National Museum of Jamaica.
Wouldn't it be great to see all these in one place at some time?
Finally, when there have been social upheavals, monuments have a habit of
being moved to more/less prominent places depending on who is doing the
moving and shaking!
John Siblon
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