Pausing culture in honour of Queen Elizabeth's death: A questionable mark of respect
Text by Mariana Ferro
As the news breaks, many British hearts follow. The death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th marks a turning point in history. After ruling for seven decades, the United Kingdom and 14 other states are set to experience a heartbreak season of 19 days. The “National Mourning is a period of time for reflection” in response to the queen’s passing, says the UK Government. But because of Britain's colonial history, remembering the queen's death remains a sensitive and sticky subject. The act of reflecting here implies a personal and emotional reaction to the monarch's death, which is a struggle for many. A person's opinion can be influenced by a number of things, varying from one's personal to social identity. When looking at the bigger picture, a person’s social identity builds off of their sense of belonging to a certain group or community. Equally, people's histories and pasts have a strong impact on how they perceive themselves. Yet, today’s booming of hateful and racist views on minorities invalidates the principle of respecting one's sense of place and self-worth.
Along these lines, years of British monarchy trace back to a brutal and devastating colonial era that is now disgracefully celebrated worldwide. Many Commonwealth states postponed their cultural events during this period of mourning, which raises questions about the Monarchy's ongoing influence. Beyond doubt, culture and creativity have long been serving as weapons in the fight for the liberation of oppressed communities. But now, they have been temporarily put aside as a mark of respect for the queen's death. Simply put, culture relates to the common modes of expression and behaviours that shape a collective. Voicing ourselves through art is a powerful way to create a sense of belonging and strengthen ties within a community. Without a doubt, the spread of creativity continues to knock down the deep-rooted forms of oppression that former colonies have faced up until now.
In essence, today's wave of wokeness stems from this practice, which Lead Belly pioneered with his song ‘Scottsboro Boys’. The legendary folk-blues singer introduced the word “woke” in the 1980’s, to raise awareness on the injustices faced by the Afro-American population in the state of Alabama. Belly's singing in the name of oppressed minorities was an urgent call for change in the state's racial justice system. The singer's music is a form of creative expression influenced by his culture and personal experience as a black man in a white-dominated state. On the strength of his words, the main message of consciousness was delivered to the public. Still, what began as an artistic and cultural form of expression is confronted by Britain's "anti-woke culture war" (Cammaerts 2022).
As Britain’s right-wing party continues to spread an old-fashioned narrative across the country, so does the negative undertone associated with being woke. Naturally, the dominating conservative speech continues to split the nation and silence the voices of those urged to be heard. The idea of "progress" has become associated with a victimhood mentality, weakening the gravity of minorities' social justice struggles. For many British citizens, the concept of "nativity" is a cause of serious frustration. The cases of citizenship removal in the UK continue to increase, threatening the country's cultural diaspora. Britain’s Muslim community is at the center of this crisis, as their legal sense of identity has gradually been replaced by the label of "second-class citizens" (Arab News 2022). While minority communities are still refused citizenship, no signs of respect are shown in response to their emotional and personal distress. In such cases, these people are denied the time and space to grieve and reflect because their needs and problems go unnoticed. Surely, the importance of a person’s well-being remains dependent on a society that values tradition over progress and, sadly, continues to misunderstand the latter. The ability to pause culture for personal reflection stays a privilege denied to many people. Especially because oppressed communities cannot afford to keep their weapons silent in this ongoing battle.
