"The Mast of Fraternity and Memory, inaugurated this month, marks a turning point in France's complicated relationship with the legacy of its history of enslavement just as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, comes under pressure to make key announcements on a process of reparatory justice."
"Dieudonne Boutrin, a descendant of enslaved Africans who were trafficked from Benin to the French Caribbean island of Martinique, stated, 'We're not responsible for the past, but we are responsible for the present and future.'"
"The mast, a permanent, standalone structure, is unlike any other commemoration piece in France: conceived by descendants of enslaved people and built by local students at vocational colleges."
"The mast's inauguration highlights how France is under pressure to announce a framework for discussions on reparatory justice in the coming weeks."
The Mast of Fraternity and Memory in Nantes, inaugurated recently, represents a significant step in addressing France's legacy of slavery. Created by descendants of enslaved Africans, it aims to foster discussions on reparatory justice. The mast is unique as it was built by local vocational students and is part of a broader initiative to establish similar monuments globally. This inauguration coincides with increasing pressure on President Macron to address reparatory justice amid rising political tensions and societal issues related to racism in France.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]