'The Uses of the Study of War' c. 1933 - King's College London
History
Reparatory
59% of adults (aged 18+) view the empire as 'something to be proud of'
YouGov poll 2014 about the Common Wealth games.
Universities play a vital role when teaching students about Britain's colonial history.
Looking at King's archival material, such as this lecture flyer about 'The Uses of the Study of War', shows the dangers of continuing the 'racial object' narrative.
History is said to be written by the ‘winners.’ With the glorification of the British Empire, it is clear to see the dangerous characterisation of the ‘racial object.’ For example, the myth that Britons are the 'givers of freedom' after the abolishment of slavery in 1833. This play on racial ideology fails to acknowledge the sufferings of colonization.
There have been several protests in other univeristies. The Rhodes Must Fall Campaign and the #LiberateMyDegree highlights the white and eurocentric focus many institutions have.
Though the backlash received by these campaigns may infer that universities are not ready to accept their responsibility in creating the 'racial object.' They remain to be implicit subjects to their history.
Shifting our attention to those ignored in the ‘winner’s’ history, we not only identify the wrong-doers but also mourn the trauma of British Imperialism. By changing the narrative and having a 'racial subject', we can begin to write reparatory history.
King's College London
Toni Morrison: "We must avert the critical gaze from the racial object to the racial subject."
