‘Racism is more than just assets’
...But motion fails to address inequality, says authority’s only mixed-race member
A COUNCIL review and potential removal of any property linked to racism, slavery, colonialism must not be carried out by a “bunch of white people,” councillors say.
Derbyshire Dales District Council voted on Thursday night to review all of the items it owns after national uproar over the “racist” wooden black head sculpture above the Green Man Gallows sign in St John Street, which the authority was gifted several years ago.
In last week’s full council meeting, members repeatedly stressed that the review must rely heavily on the help of outside agencies and black and minority ethnic residents and visitors.
This would be to avoid decisions being made by an almost entirely white authority.
All councillors on the council are white – save for Cllr Jacqueline Allison, who is mixed-race.
The now notorious sculpture, which had formed part of an historic pub sign, triggered the call for a review of the Torycontrolled authority’s property by Conservative Cllr Jason Atkin.
Thousands of people signed a petition calling for the sculpture to be removed – calling it racist and offensive or, at best, outdated.
However, it was removed by protective local protesters late on Monday, June 8 and hidden.
The head was returned to the council, its legal owner, three days later and two days after the authority expected this to have happened.
An independent investigation into that series of events and councillor involvement in the item’s removal and storage is being carried out and is due to be completed by the end of August.
It was claimed by Cllr Clare Gamble that councillors were sent an email by the authority advising them not to talk to the press about the sculpture. Cllr Garry Purdy, leader of the authority, would not comment on the matter.
During Thursday’s debate, Cllr Robert Archer, Lib Dem for Ashbourne South, said: “The level of resistance to the admirable Black Lives Matter movement, not only across the country but also in my own home town, only emphasises further how much work we have to do to create a society where people of all backgrounds feel equally welcome and comfortable.
“Seeing Derbyshire Dales residents trying to undermine the BLM movement by circulating posts on social media calling for all mosques to be closed down and taking the law into their own hands to protect an historic pub sign, which is indisputably offensive to black people highlights the fact that the issues of tolerance, equality and diversity need to be addressed at a local level.
“I love Ashbourne and the Dales, but I don’t love the fact that black and Asian friends and colleagues tell me they feel uneasy visiting our beautiful town. They would love to live in the Dales but don’t feel that they belong here.
“Dealing with the black’s head in a sensitive and appropriate manner is a great opportunity to repair the damage done by the articles in the local and national press.
“I very much hope all political groups on this council embrace this opportunity to promote Ashbourne and the Dales as a tolerant place that champions equality and diversity and is sensitive to the feelings and experiences of all people – whether it be residents or visitors to our fantastic district.”
Cllr Peter Slack said: “In the Derbyshire Dales district and Wirksworth we see evidence of a racist and colonial past which is totally offensive to BAME and the majority of white people. There is a need to move the offensive items to museums, where true history can be explained.”
Cllr Mike Ratcliffe said: “We always want to show support for the suppressed minorities. My position is we should be putting our resources into a much more supportive, broad and consolidated practice which can be supported by BAME groups.
“Who is going to be carrying out this review? At the moment, the officers of an all-white authority. If this council is going to be genuinely behind the BLM movement and to eradicate racism we need more than this gesture.”
Cllr Allison, who represents Doveridge and Sudbury, said: “It has been mentioned and it has been said again tonight that this is an all-white council. It is not. I am mixed-race. My heritage is white-asian. The events in Ashbourne have made me feel uncomfortable and alienated.
“Racism is more than assets, it is about behaviours. This motion fails to address the fundamental issue of inequality.”
Cllr David Chapman asked how the council would distance itself from the issues. He says the district has profited from the sales of American cotton, picked by slaves. He also says there was white slavery in the mills of Joseph Arkwright. He said: “How far do we take it, do we go the whole hog?”
Cllr Peter O’brien said he had asked BAME constituents about the motion and he claimed they told him it should not be the council that decides what is offensive and/or racist and that the BAME community should carry out the review on the authority’s behalf.
Cllr Purdy said: “We could have a long philosophical debate about this but it is about our assets. I ask that we keep it simple and on authority assets. We should check we have nothing that is going to cause hurt.”
Cllr Joyce Purdy said: “BAME people need to know that is not going to be a bunch of white people looking at objects to see which we do or don’t like.”
Cllr Steve Wain said: “We are, predominantly a white authority, as are most of our officers, and I suggest we do consult externally on this.”
Councillors voted in favour of the review by 28 votes to seven against – those opposed to the motion did so because they felt it was not broad enough to tackle systemic racism.
Racism is more than assets, it is about behaviours. This motion fails to address the issue of inequality.
Cllr Jacqueline Allison