Is it wrong to topple statues and rename schools?

Joanna Burch-Brown

Is it wrong to topple statues and rename schools?

Joanna Burch-Brown

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

In recent years, campaigns across the globe have called for the removal of objects symbolic of white supremacy. This paper examines the ethics of altering or removing such objects. Do these strategies sanitize history, destroy heritage and suppress freedom of speech? Or are they important steps towards justice? Does removing monuments and renaming schools reflect a lack of parity and unfairly erase local identities? Or can it sometimes be morally required, as an expression of respect for the memories of people who endured past injustices; a recognition of this history’s ongoing legacies; and a repudiation of unjust social hierarchies?

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	59-88
Number of pages	29
Journal	Journal of Political Theory and Philosophy
Volume	1
Early online date	22 Dec 2017
Publication status	Published - Dec 2017

Bibliographical note

Inaugural edition of Journal of Political Theory and Philosophy, with Cornel West, Steven Smith, John Searle, Ingvar Johansson, David Sidorsky, and Brad Hooker

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research Groups and Themes

Centre for Black Humanities

Keywords

social movements
protest
ideology
social philosophy
Public History
slavery
slavery and memory
decolonization
postcolonialism
social justice
heritage

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1 Article (Academic Journal)

Should slavery's statues be removed? On transitional justice and contested heritage
Burch-Brown, J. M., 20 Nov 2020, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Applied Philosophy. 18 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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39 Citations (Scopus)

943 Downloads (Pure)

Dr Joanna M Burch-Brown
- J.Burch-Brownbristol.acuk
- Department of Philosophy - Senior Lecturer
- Migration Mobilities Bristol
Person: Academic , Member

Cite this

@article{4223f4900c88437bb28a8711bab81fd6,

title = "Is it wrong to topple statues and rename schools?",

abstract = "In recent years, campaigns across the globe have called for the removal of objects symbolic of white supremacy. This paper examines the ethics of altering or removing such objects. Do these strategies sanitize history, destroy heritage and suppress freedom of speech? Or are they important steps towards justice? Does removing monuments and renaming schools reflect a lack of parity and unfairly erase local identities? Or can it sometimes be morally required, as an expression of respect for the memories of people who endured past injustices; a recognition of this history{\textquoteright}s ongoing legacies; and a repudiation of unjust social hierarchies?",

keywords = "social movements, protest, ideology, social philosophy, Public History, slavery , slavery and memory, decolonization, postcolonialism, social justice, heritage",

author = "Joanna Burch-Brown",

note = "Inaugural edition of Journal of Political Theory and Philosophy, with Cornel West, Steven Smith, John Searle, Ingvar Johansson, David Sidorsky, and Brad Hooker ",

year = "2017",

month = dec,

language = "English",

volume = "1",