I’m taking a break from social media for a moment, but here’s a quick thought:
Ask me how much I care about where we draw the line on toppling monuments of bigots and slaveholders. This might be a conversation I’d be interested in if 99% of America’s statutes weren’t of white dudes. As it stands, five—FIVE—statues in Washington, D.C. are of women from history; the other 46 statues depicting women do so anonymously, or even better, toplessly. Call me and ask me how much I care when all of our historical monuments aren’t to white men who tried to oppress women or people of color.
As for what we do with the toppled statues, I’m personally of the throw-them-in-the-museum variety, but honestly? I don’t care. I don’t think historical monuments need to be destroyed; in fact, I think it’s counterproductive. But do I care, when my friends are under threat from actual Nazis? No, I decidedly do not.
One reply on “On Toppling Monuments”
Your point about the overwhelming number of statues dedicated to white men really struck me. It’s frustrating to think that we’ve glorified figures who contributed to oppression while sidelining the stories of women and marginalized groups. Personally, I’ve often wondered how we can shift this narrative and promote a more inclusive history—it’s something I explored in a piece on Apostate Verity. It’s essential that we reflect on who we choose to honor in our public spaces. Thanks for raising this important discussion!