The Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives on the Future of Monuments with Difficult Pasts

A Heritage Now Event
Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives

date & time

Location

Virtual Event




This event is part of the Heritage Now series and took place virtually on Friday, October 30, 2020, at 2 PM (EST). See below for more information on the discussion, including the event description and speaker information. 


Event Description 


The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others have led to massive protests across the United States calling for social justice in the name of Black Lives Matter. The destruction of Confederate memorials depicting white supremacists and slave owners has become a central issue in these protests. In recent years, protestors from Paris to Cape Town have made similar demands to remove monuments with roots in colonialism, imperialism, and systemic racism. This global movement highlights fundamental debates surrounding cultural preservation, notions of global heritage and ownership, and the public sphere. How do we make decisions about these monuments and places that are inclusive and representative of multiple perspectives?


On October 30 at 2 PM EDT, join World Monuments Fund (WMF) for a virtual discussion with British-Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, social historian of twentieth-century Europe Dr. Joshua Arthurs, and visual artist, public speaker and performer based in Cape Town, South Africa, Sethembile Msezane. Moderated by WMF President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur. 


Date: October 30, 2020

Time: 2pm (EDT)




The Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives on the Future of Monuments with Difficult Pasts

A Heritage Now Event

date & time

Location

Virtual Event
Confederate Monument Debate: International Perspectives




This event is part of the Heritage Now series and took place virtually on Friday, October 30, 2020, at 2 PM (EST). See below for more information on the discussion, including the event description and speaker information. 


Event Description 


The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others have led to massive protests across the United States calling for social justice in the name of Black Lives Matter. The destruction of Confederate memorials depicting white supremacists and slave owners has become a central issue in these protests. In recent years, protestors from Paris to Cape Town have made similar demands to remove monuments with roots in colonialism, imperialism, and systemic racism. This global movement highlights fundamental debates surrounding cultural preservation, notions of global heritage and ownership, and the public sphere. How do we make decisions about these monuments and places that are inclusive and representative of multiple perspectives?


On October 30 at 2 PM EDT, join World Monuments Fund (WMF) for a virtual discussion with British-Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, social historian of twentieth-century Europe Dr. Joshua Arthurs, and visual artist, public speaker and performer based in Cape Town, South Africa, Sethembile Msezane. Moderated by WMF President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur. 


Date: October 30, 2020

Time: 2pm (EDT)




About The Speakers

  • Background Material 

    For more information about the topic of this event and to learn more about the difficult question of contested heritage, take a look at the compiled list of articles, books, and talks below:

  • About Heritage Now

    A series of conversations at the nexus of history, culture and current global issues with top thought leaders, activists, artists, journalists, and politicians, Heritage Now explores why monuments and other cultural heritage sites are such a vital part of our local and global ecosystems; the history and relevance of these sites in our contemporary context; the urgent threats to their preservation; and what we can do—individually and collectively—to protect these irreplaceable treasures.

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