The wave of mass protests has signaled a new era of creating history.
The subordinate groups in the US have spoken against the injustices they’ve had to live through under White supremacists.
After years of objections, the American Museum of National History has conclusively decided to remove the statue of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt was an American politician, statesman, conservationist who served his country as the 26th president.
The bronze statue has been a historical landmark since 1940. It stands at the museum’s Central West entrance. The statue depicts Roosevelt riding on the horseback claiming authority over the two men; A native American and African, who stand on the two sides. The statue engenders a clear dichotomy of race and class.
The statue has been asked to put down because it embodies a racialist discourse against indigenous and black people.
The tweet by Washington Times reiterates this news claiming this statue to be ‘problematic’. To which the United States president has said, “Ridiculous, don’t do it!” The choice of words mirror a clear sense of privilege and ignorance that the Whites assume over other racial communities.
Ellen Futter, the museum’s president acknowledges the underlying sentiments which have furthered desideratum to put down this statue.point 240 |
He reiterates that the whole community has been ‘moved’ by the emerging voices against racial discrimination.point 98 | The murder of George Floyd, a Black police officer, has had a great impact on US denizens and politicians.point 186 | It has led people to have conversations that seemed to be unworthy otherwise.point 251 |
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Officials have yet not disclosed where the statue will be moved after its dismantling.
The statue has been a point of controversy since 2017. The splash of red liquid was a major symbolising protest back in 2017. Protestors issued a statement that called out this statue to be a sign of ‘patriarchy, white supremacy and settler-colonialism’.
The hall of biodiversity in the museum is said to be named after Roosevelt and his conservation legacy. This act of removal is a progressive attempt to a more acceptable, and cohesive society.