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Oxford’s Cecil Rhodes statue must fall – it stands in the way of inclusivity Oxford’s Cecil Rhodes statue must fall – it stands in the way of inclusivity
(7 months later)
For months, many of my colleagues and I have campaigned for our university, Oxford, to remove its statue glorifying the racist mass murderer of Africans Cecil Rhodes. We have argued our case openly with the university authorities and have brought the issue to national attention. Today there will be a debate at the Oxford Union on the issue. Fellow students at University College have also voted to change the name of its Rhodes computer room.For months, many of my colleagues and I have campaigned for our university, Oxford, to remove its statue glorifying the racist mass murderer of Africans Cecil Rhodes. We have argued our case openly with the university authorities and have brought the issue to national attention. Today there will be a debate at the Oxford Union on the issue. Fellow students at University College have also voted to change the name of its Rhodes computer room.
Related: Cecil Rhodes statue row: Chris Patten tells students to embrace freedom of thought
Last week, though, we had a shock. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Oxford’s chancellor, Chris Patten, said: “If people at a university are not prepared to demonstrate the sort of generosity of spirit which Nelson Mandela showed towards Rhodes and towards history, if they are not prepared to embrace all those values which are contained in the most important book for any undergraduate – Karl Popper’s Open Society – if they are not prepared to embrace those issues then maybe they should think about being educated elsewhere.”Last week, though, we had a shock. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Oxford’s chancellor, Chris Patten, said: “If people at a university are not prepared to demonstrate the sort of generosity of spirit which Nelson Mandela showed towards Rhodes and towards history, if they are not prepared to embrace all those values which are contained in the most important book for any undergraduate – Karl Popper’s Open Society – if they are not prepared to embrace those issues then maybe they should think about being educated elsewhere.”
Was it true that in this institution, which prides itself on openness and debate, we have to conform to one man’s singular view of the world to be accepted and welcomed?Was it true that in this institution, which prides itself on openness and debate, we have to conform to one man’s singular view of the world to be accepted and welcomed?
The Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford campaign is led by black and minority ethnic students, many of whose experiences lead us to question our own presence at an institution that was not built for us. In this context, these words read like a direct, official confirmation of our worst fears.The Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford campaign is led by black and minority ethnic students, many of whose experiences lead us to question our own presence at an institution that was not built for us. In this context, these words read like a direct, official confirmation of our worst fears.
For minority students, Oxford can be challenging. Not academically, but culturally. For many of us – including working class students – its culture is deeply unfamiliar. The university is a place that, for the majority of its history, has been inaccessible to those who do not fall into a specific identity group. This is a history that takes time and effort to change.For minority students, Oxford can be challenging. Not academically, but culturally. For many of us – including working class students – its culture is deeply unfamiliar. The university is a place that, for the majority of its history, has been inaccessible to those who do not fall into a specific identity group. This is a history that takes time and effort to change.
A 2014 survey conducted by the Student Union’s race equality campaign found that 59% of black and minority students felt uncomfortable or unwelcome on account of their race or ethnicity at Oxford: 81% said they felt race and ethnicity were not adequately discussed at the university and 51% had experienced a racial incident they felt was unacceptable and alienating. Just 13% – and probably even less than this after Patten’s comments – said they would feel comfortable discussing an issue of race with their college administration.A 2014 survey conducted by the Student Union’s race equality campaign found that 59% of black and minority students felt uncomfortable or unwelcome on account of their race or ethnicity at Oxford: 81% said they felt race and ethnicity were not adequately discussed at the university and 51% had experienced a racial incident they felt was unacceptable and alienating. Just 13% – and probably even less than this after Patten’s comments – said they would feel comfortable discussing an issue of race with their college administration.
The Rhodes Must Fall campaign was founded partly to redress these issues. It operates on the premise that these present discrepancies are rooted in history, and that the present and the past must, together, be critically engaged with. An examination of Oxford’s culture and curriculum must happen alongside a call for greater admissions outreach to those who have been systematically excluded from this university for centuries.The Rhodes Must Fall campaign was founded partly to redress these issues. It operates on the premise that these present discrepancies are rooted in history, and that the present and the past must, together, be critically engaged with. An examination of Oxford’s culture and curriculum must happen alongside a call for greater admissions outreach to those who have been systematically excluded from this university for centuries.
We do not just “shout”. We write, debate, sign petitions. Last term, we sat for half an hour with deans of Oriel college – where the statue stands – on the cold, wet floor, explaining the reasoning behind our concerns. We have been engaging in our legitimate right to free speech and expression. Yet now we’ve been told by our chancellor that we – and our views – are not welcome at the university we call ours.We do not just “shout”. We write, debate, sign petitions. Last term, we sat for half an hour with deans of Oriel college – where the statue stands – on the cold, wet floor, explaining the reasoning behind our concerns. We have been engaging in our legitimate right to free speech and expression. Yet now we’ve been told by our chancellor that we – and our views – are not welcome at the university we call ours.
Related: Topple the Cecil Rhodes statue? Better to rebrand him a war criminal | David Olusoga
Yes, we are critical of the Cecil Rhodes statue, but we are not denying debate, or blocking freedom of speech and academic inquiry as our detractors have said. This is the exact opposite of what we have done. For decades, students walked past the Rhodes statue without a thought. The Rhodes Must Fall founding students – many of whom are scholars of history – bucked this trend. They stopped, looked up at the statue and academically inquired into Rhodes’ legacy.Yes, we are critical of the Cecil Rhodes statue, but we are not denying debate, or blocking freedom of speech and academic inquiry as our detractors have said. This is the exact opposite of what we have done. For decades, students walked past the Rhodes statue without a thought. The Rhodes Must Fall founding students – many of whom are scholars of history – bucked this trend. They stopped, looked up at the statue and academically inquired into Rhodes’ legacy.
What they found was a man who was the architect of apartheid – not “a man of his time”, but a man considered by his peers, including those in Oxford, to be excessively brutal. His 1902 obituary in The Guardian stated: “He did more than any Englishman of his time to lower the reputation … of the Empire.” They found a man whose legacy continues to oppress and disenfranchise people today.What they found was a man who was the architect of apartheid – not “a man of his time”, but a man considered by his peers, including those in Oxford, to be excessively brutal. His 1902 obituary in The Guardian stated: “He did more than any Englishman of his time to lower the reputation … of the Empire.” They found a man whose legacy continues to oppress and disenfranchise people today.
In light of this, with great consideration, they concluded that a glorifying statue praising his “generosity” – with no mention of how the money to fund this was accumulated – was an anti-intellectual, ahistorical and inappropriate way to memorialise his brutality. Our contention is not simply that Rhodes was a man with objectionable opinions, but that he was responsible for very real violence and destruction that has a lasting impact today.In light of this, with great consideration, they concluded that a glorifying statue praising his “generosity” – with no mention of how the money to fund this was accumulated – was an anti-intellectual, ahistorical and inappropriate way to memorialise his brutality. Our contention is not simply that Rhodes was a man with objectionable opinions, but that he was responsible for very real violence and destruction that has a lasting impact today.
The campaign has no interest in “no platforming” Rhodes. On the contrary, it is actively calling for Rhodes to be discussed – in seminars, books and curricula, where the histories of his victims can also be given a platform. While these histories continue to be forgotten, a sentimentalised, whitewashed statue stands in the way of academic rigour. It also stands in the way of the university’s stated aim of creating an “inclusive” environment for its ethnic minority students – particularly those from southern Africa, who continue to be disenfranchised by his legacy.The campaign has no interest in “no platforming” Rhodes. On the contrary, it is actively calling for Rhodes to be discussed – in seminars, books and curricula, where the histories of his victims can also be given a platform. While these histories continue to be forgotten, a sentimentalised, whitewashed statue stands in the way of academic rigour. It also stands in the way of the university’s stated aim of creating an “inclusive” environment for its ethnic minority students – particularly those from southern Africa, who continue to be disenfranchised by his legacy.
The Rhodes Must Fall campaign shares this aim – and achieving this requires inclusive engagement between the university and students. We have repeatedly invited representatives of the administration to attend our general assemblies, where the university can be held accountable to its commitments; an issue that affects so many students has no place in back-room meetings.The Rhodes Must Fall campaign shares this aim – and achieving this requires inclusive engagement between the university and students. We have repeatedly invited representatives of the administration to attend our general assemblies, where the university can be held accountable to its commitments; an issue that affects so many students has no place in back-room meetings.
At its core, the spirit of Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford is to be constructive – we want to create the opportunity for voices and histories that are traditionally marginalised to be given a platform. This, to us, is the definition of intellectual curiosity.At its core, the spirit of Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford is to be constructive – we want to create the opportunity for voices and histories that are traditionally marginalised to be given a platform. This, to us, is the definition of intellectual curiosity.