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Bristol mayor: Colston statue removal was act of 'historical poetry'
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Marvin Rees on the slave trader, institutional racism and his mixed heritage experiencevimeo.com/ondemand/themayorsrace
7th June 2020
The Black Lives Matter Bristol protestors today enacted an historic and heroic act of civil vandalism, when they roped a 130 year old statue and ripped it to the ground, from its plinth over-looking the very heart of the city.
youtu.be/uX9G5Lk3Rnk
Edward Colston's (1636-1721) heavy bronze statue rung with a clunk as it landed to amazed, ecstatic, cheering crowds.
This may well be a very fitting act of civil action - but many will, of course, believe that it is simple vandalism, committed against an almost-sacred symbol to the city.
How does this relate to the murder of George Floyd? Or is Black Lives Matter really a protest about the legacy of slavery?
Bristol was at the forefront of colonising what is now known as the United States, since 1497, with Cabot's sailing to 'New Found Land' (Canada). Over centuries, the city's ships transported at least half a million Africans to the Americas. These people were the ancestors of today's 'black people' who have continued to suffer under the knee of the most systematic and instituted racism, by the state itself and the sustained culture of acceptable, unpunished racism it encouraged.
These BLM protests are not just about George Floyd but the millions of people and hundreds of years that had come before - which was all captured in that incident in Minneapolis. So Colston, like Derek Chauvin with his police badge, is a symbol of that ongoing state oppression, exploitation and vicious abuse that has gone on from Cabot through Colston, to this day.
Racism against African people IS the legacy of transatlantic slavery.
Meanwhile, in Bristol's City Hall - Mayor Marvin Rees, the city's first black leader, with Jamaican heritage himself, descendent to those transported, abused Africans, must respond. But how does he do it in a way that serves all Bristolians?
Watch The Mayor's Race, to see how these links connect - Bristol - Slavery - Colston - Racism and political leadership. Get the story of Marvin Rees - emerging from one of the city's poor neighbourhoods, with an ambition to make a difference. The film shows him confronting his insecurities to try to be not just a 'black activist' but a black statesman.
vimeo.com/ondemand/themayorsrace
Cheers as Bristol protesters pull down statue of 17th century slave trader
youtu.be
Black Lives Matters protesters in Bristol have pulled down a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston, whose company transported more than 100,000 slaves fr...In times of global lockdowns, let's not lose sight of the inequality that hasn't changed for so many. #Stayhome and watch The Mayor's Race - Documentary with us. An award-winning film about the journey of mixed-race Marvin Rees, who grew up in Bristol's ghettos and despite all odds rose to become the first European citymayor of African descent. A story of civil rights movements and uprise, failure and inner struggle, prompting the question: 'What would you stand for?'
Watch now on VoD: vimeo.com/ondemand/themayorsrace
In times of global lockdowns, let's not lose sight of the inequality that hasn't changed for so many. #Stayhome and watch The Mayor's Race - Documentary with us. An award-winning film about the journey of mixed-race Marvin Rees, who grew up in Bristol's ghettos and despite all odds rose to become the first European citymayor of African descent. A story of civil rights movements and uprise, failure and inner struggle, prompting the question: 'What would you stand for?'
Watch now on VoD: vimeo.com/ondemand/themayorsrace
Watch The Mayor's Race Online | Vimeo On Demand
vimeo.com
Marvin is mixed-race and grew up in Bristol's ghettos. Having experienced poverty and racism, he wants to shape the society he lives in and runs for mayor....from our Twitter
Birmingham!!!We are coming!!! @mayorsracefilm will have its Birmingham Screening at the @unibirmingham. Save the date: 30th of October, 3pm at the Main Lecture Theatre.
Just a week and a day until The Mayor's Race! 3pm, 30 Oct, Arts Main Lecture Theatre. Open to all. https://twitter.com/MBSBirmingham/status/1184796751179538433
London's calling big times! @buffenterprises nominated @mayorsracefilm for Best Documentary!!!Come out and watch this Thursday at the @MetFilmSchool Mr Rob Mitchell will be there for Q&A at the @BUFF Awards Documentary Showcase #awards #Documentary
