Synthèse Black lives matter

Acknowledgement of inequalities in the UK, validation of the BLM movement

Reasons why the removal of colonial figures' statues is a good thing

Why the statues shouldn't be destroyed, importance of history

Anti-BLM, denial of racism and police violence in the UK

Document 1 :        

• Indian newspaper
• Neutral to pro-BLM (exposes different points of vue, doesn't take one's party but repartition in favour of BLM movement)
• Intro + 5 parts → Question : « Does the UK have its own reasons for BLM protests ? »

→ Part 1 : Data showing the inequalities BAME communities face regarding               police action [quoted : R. Joseph-Salisbury (University of                             Manchester) ; N. Jeffers (co-founder of BLM UK)]

→ Part 2 : BAME more affected by Covid-19 due to social inequalities                         [quoted : BMA (British Medical association)]

→ Part 3 : Other examples of racial mindset and inequalities in the UK

→ Part 4 : Historical perspective, arguments for and against the toppling of               statues of racist figures [quoted : R. Joseph-Salisbury (University               of Manchester) ; B. Johnson (PM)]

→ Part 5 : Criticism of BLM and pro-BLM conclusion [quoted : E. Krakue              (Ghanaian author & broadcaster) ; R. Joseph-Salisbury (University               of Manchester)]

Document 2 :

• British infowebsite
• Mostly a report of B. Johnson's speech, no comments made so can be considered neutral
• Not really organized or divided in parts
• Main ideas → Support of the BLM cause, acknowledging racism in the UK (higher Covid-                 19 impact, police brutality...) [quoted : B. Johnson (PM)]

                      → Threat those who vandalised satues, don't respect social distancing measures                                                                                or attack the police [quoted : B. Johnson (PM)]

                      → Statues attacked because offensive to BAME, however not a good way to do                                 [quoted : M. Rees (Bristol Mayor, black)]

Document 3 :

• UK newspaper
• Pro-BLM but anti-statue removal and anti-BoJo
• Comparison with french governmental response
• Intro + 3 parts → Question : « What went wrong in the UK ? Why didn't the BLM protests lead to a clear decision like in France (banning chokeholds) ?

→ Part 1 : Progress already made in the UK about police violence

→ Part 2 : No government response to political demands, problems to be dealt with regarding social and racial inequalities

→ Part 3 : Reasons for the unefficiency of the protests in the UK (BBC monopoly favorises a very manichean perspective, excessive complexity of newspaper articles, lack of a clear BLM leader)

Document 4 :

• Indian newspaper
• Openly anti-BLM and rightwing
• 5 parts + conclusion → Part 1 : Support to BLM in the US, acknowleging racism

                                  → Part 2 : Absurdity of BLM in the UK, « reverse racism »

                                  → Part 3 : Problems caused by « futile » protests (impunity, lack of                                             recognition...)

                                  → Part 4 : Ridiculousness of the fight over statues, lack of response                                             from « leftist » authorities

                                  → Part 5 : Defense of historical figures Ghandi & Churchill

Document 5 :

• French newspaper
• Not so much to do with BLM but seemingly in favour of the movement
• Main ideas → Refusal to give in to a moralising frenzy, dangers of anachronism

 → Importance of pedagogy, learning from mistakes from the past

 → Keeping the statues in order to explain to future generations

 → Positive evolution of ideas

Reasons why the removal of colonial figures' statues is a good thing :

1. Statues show who the people want to honor and remember

• Doc.1

1. Bring the UK to take into account their colonial past

• Doc.1

1. Offensive to BAME communities

• Doc.2

Acknowledgement of inequalities in the UK, validation of the BLM movement :

1. BAME facing discrimination in police action, prison situation, aplication of criminal law and deaths in custody

• Doc.1
• Doc.2
• Doc.3

1. BAME much more impacted by Covid-19

• Doc.1
• Doc.2

1. Social inequalities (employment, education...)

• Doc.1
• Doc.2
• Doc.3

1. Encouragment of BLM growth

• Doc.1
• Doc.2
• Doc.3
• Doc.4
• Doc.5

Why the statues shouldn't be destroyed, importance of history :

1.  Both the good and the bad of the country's history have to be taught

• Doc.1
• Doc.5

1. PM threatening vandals

• Doc.1
• Doc.2

1. Unefficiency of the practice, ridiculous way to fight

• Doc.2
• Doc.3
• Doc.4
• Doc.5

1. Nuanced historical figures

• Doc.4
• Doc.5

Anti-BLM, denial of racism and police violence in the UK :

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