The City of London Corporation has unveiled plaques on statues of William Beckford and Sir John Cass, acknowledging their roles in the slave trade. This initiative, part of the Revealing The City's Past project, aims to provide historical context and accountability concerning the transatlantic enslavement of African people. The plaques include critiques of the men's actions and feature contributions from Caribbean diaspora voices. Despite earlier plans to remove the statues, the current policy retains them while condemning their legacy and addressing the injustice they represent.
This project reflects a commitment to historical accountability for its role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved African people, revealing the enormous wrongdoings of the past.
The plaques now bear information condemning their roles, highlighting a shift towards retaining statues while providing historical context to confront their legacy.
Chris Hayward remarked on the importance of including voices from the Caribbean diaspora, emphasizing the project's role in revealing the injustices committed by Beckford and Cass.
Brendan Barns emphasized that the statues represent prejudice and cruelty, acknowledging the city's historical links to slavery as a significant stain that must be recognized.
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