ESC series looks at dismantling colonialism

Two of the leading figures in those movements in the United States and Britain will be the featured speakers at the opening event at the Central Bank Auditorium, Twin Towers, Independence Square on Sunday at 5 pm.

Cleo Lake and Michael “Quess” Moore will address Dismantling the Colonial Legacy: Reflections from a New Front Line. Lake is an artist, activist, councillor (Cotham, England) and founding member of “Countering Colston”, a campaign that is stripping the city of Bristol, England of a notorious slave trader’s name, building by building.

A native Bristolian of Afro-Jamaican and Scottish roots, Lake says she is an artist who is driven by truth and justice.

The Countering Colston campaign is meant to empower residents although the city of Bristol openly celebrates the major historical slave trader Edward Colston who lived there. As a form of positive resistance, Lake has called an action of awareness to understand the complete history of the transatlantic slave trade; to commemorate and mourn those who died because of the slave trade; celebrate those who resisted slavery and promote ideas of human dignity, equality and freedom.

, USA, which has already led to the take down of a number of statues glorifying those who fought to maintain slavery in the United States.

Take Em Down NOLA was primarily founded by three young black educators: adjunct college professor Malcolm Suber, K-8 principal Angela Kinlaw, and Moore. Together, they have lobbied for the removal of statues that represent the colonial context and white supremacy.

Last month, three images were taken down: the statue of Confederate leader Jefferson Davis, originally erected in 1911; an equestrian statue of the Confederate general PGT Beauregard; a monument to the Battle of Liberty Place, which commemorated a Reconstruction-era insurrection by white supremacists.

The launch of the lecture series will be followed by an exciting film festival that runs from June 29 to July 25, comprising a number of award-winning films such as I am not your Negro by the Caribbean’s own master film-maker Raoul Peck, Get Out, Queen of Katwe and Fences. All films are free and will be followed by discussion.

For seat reservation for Sunday and more info: 625-5008, www.emancipationtt.

com or on Facebook at Emancipation Support Committee – ESC.