Okay, so here’s the thing. This whole British campaign against slavery? It’s been this big beacon for later social movements, right? But guess what? For ages, the sheer brutality dumped on millions of Africans who got caught up in this mess of chattel slavery in British colonies was kind of, you know, swept under the rug. Or treated like, poof, it all disappeared when they banned it.
And now comes this fresh scoop from the University of Edinburgh. They’re digging into their own messy history with slavery. Turns out, it’s part of this super late, almost-last-minute reckoning by UK institutions trying to face up to some seriously dark chapters of their past. Glasgow got the ball rolling, partnering with the University of the West Indies on this reparative justice gig — all because of some hefty donations from plantation owners and slave traders. Can you believe that?
Edinburgh’s findings? Yeah, they’re pretty intense. A cool £30m or more rolled in from donors linked to slavery over the years. And it wasn’t just about the money. The place was a magnet for racist thinkers — some big names in that creepy pseudoscience, phrenology, had ties there. Also, a bit behind the times on the abolitionist front, truth be told.
Now they’re weighing some heavy recommendations. Like, should they kick off a new racism and colonialism study hub? Rename a few buildings? Diversify the whole student-faculty mix — ’cause, let’s face it, Black students and academics are still kinda scarce there. And it’s not just about spending on scholarships or setting up summer schools. Nope, it’s about shaking things up beyond the ivy-covered walls.
Edinburgh’s a big player in the Scottish scene, boasting alums like Gordon Brown and John Swinney. Tackling these injustices in academia — remnants of the slavery era — really matters. But there’s more to it. It’s not just a university thing. This report should open up everyone’s eyes to how today’s inequalities are woven from the nasty practices of yesteryears.
For ages, we’ve kinda glossed over how our modern world got shaped by these skewed colonial power plays. Historians often skipped to rosier tales, showing Britain in some golden light. But let’s face it, those old exploitative vibes? They’re lurking everywhere — in our global cash systems, in our built environments, in museum exhibits, and even snooping around in institutions like the Guardian, which did its own digging with the Cotton Capital project.
So these age-old, muscle-flexing institutions with murky endowment origins? They gotta own up. Some are starting to, thankfully. A place like Edinburgh can’t really keep boasting about past glories without owning up to its shady past bits. Reflecting on history’s great, sure. But hey, it’s not the full ticket. This report hollers out that any place riding high on historical exploitation should let an awareness of that past light its present path.
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