5 The summer of 2020: memorialization under Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter

Abstract

ABSTRACT Through a range of local and national examples, Kushner explores how Britain has dealt with difficult histories, especially relating to racism, slavery and antisemitism. By utilizing insights from the history of emotions and the senses, he explores how the murder of George Floyd in the Covid-19 summer of 2020 brought to the fore issues of commemoration and belonging that have never been confronted and contested so intensively and heatedly before. His article argues for a bold response that is not afraid, through due process, to remove heritage that is deeply offensive, while recognizing the importance of ambiguity and complexity in re-representing and confronting troubling pasts, including the representation of perpetrators. In working towards a post-Covid-19 world, Kushner argues against returning to the ‘norm’ and instead towards a heritage and history that is sensitive, critical and inclusive, recognizing the presence of migrants in Britain, past and present.