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Bristol: A Brief Introduction
Today, the city of Bristol has a population of 467,000 and it is the most populous city in South West England. However, Bristol began life as a small settlement known as Brycgstow, established by the year 1000 AD where the rivers Frome and Avon join. The town became a county in 1373, the first town in England to be given this status. During this period, Bristol became a shipbuilding and manufacturing centre.
Since the 15th century Bristol has developed into a major UK city. The main reason for this is the international trade that took place from its port that brought a great deal of wealth to the city and to the merchants who controlled the Transatlantic Slave trade. These merchants included William de la Founte in the 15th century, Robert Kitchen in the 16th century and George White in the 17th century. These merchants transported enslaved people from West Africa to colonies in the Caribbean and America to provide free labour. This free labour enabled other trades and industries to flourish, including tobacco, sugar, cotton and banking.
Today, the city of Bristol has a population of 467,000 and it is the most populous city in South West England. However, Bristol began life as a small settlement known as Brycgstow, established by the year 1000 AD where the rivers Frome and Avon join. The town became a county in 1373, the first town in England to be given this status. During this period, Bristol became a shipbuilding and manufacturing centre.
Since the 15th century Bristol has developed into a major UK city. The main reason for this is the international trade that took place from its port that brought a great deal of wealth to the city and to the merchants who controlled the Transatlantic Slave trade. These merchants included William de la Founte in the 15th century, Robert Kitchen in the 16th century and George White in the 17th century. These merchants transported enslaved people from West Africa to colonies in the Caribbean and America to provide free labour. This free labour enabled other trades and industries to flourish, including tobacco, sugar, cotton and banking.
Bristol: A Brief Introduction
As an industrial city, Bristol is home to communities from many different backgrounds, including Bristolians of South Asian, East African, and Caribbean heritage. In the years following the Second World War, the British Government encouraged citizens from the British colonies abroad including the Caribbean to come and settle in the UK and contribute to the rebuilding of the economy.
Despite this encouragement, when these communities arrived in the country they were met with a lot of discrimination that refused them access to homes, jobs and positions of influence in the city. Before the Race Relations Act of 1968 immigrant communities had no legal protections against this discrimination. Even now, inequality still exists in the city of Bristol and across the country.
Bristol consistently ranks in the top 10 worst cities in the UK to grow up disadvantaged and African heritage in terms of schooling outcomes and employment opportunities. In 2017, an organisation that investigates racial inequality, The Runnymede Trust found that Bristol was ranked 159th out of 348 districts, for educational inequality. However, for people of African descent Bristol has the 3rd highest level of educational inequality in England and Wales. In 2020 the Bristol Post reported that one in six children are living in poverty in Bristol.
As an industrial city, Bristol is home to communities from many different backgrounds, including Bristolians of South Asian, East African, and Caribbean heritage. In the years following the Second World War, the British Government encouraged citizens from the British colonies abroad including the Caribbean to come and settle in the UK and contribute to the rebuilding of the economy.
Despite this encouragement, when these communities arrived in the country they were met with a lot of discrimination that refused them access to homes, jobs and positions of influence in the city. Before the Race Relations Act of 1968 immigrant communities had no legal protections against this discrimination. Even now, inequality still exists in the city of Bristol and across the country.
Bristol consistently ranks in the top 10 worst cities in the UK to grow up disadvantaged and African heritage in terms of schooling outcomes and employment opportunities. In 2017, an organisation that investigates racial inequality, The Runnymede Trust found that Bristol was ranked 159th out of 348 districts, for educational inequality. However, for people of African descent Bristol has the 3rd highest level of educational inequality in England and Wales. In 2020 the Bristol Post reported that one in six children are living in poverty in Bristol.
Is this the image of an icon?
Enquiry Question
Why should somebody get a statue?
Why should somebody get a statue?
Background to Jen Reid
Jen Reid is a British Black Lives Matter activist
She is from Bristol
She is most famous for her statue that replaced Colston’s statue in Bristol in 2020, but she had been invested in activism before this
There is due to be a children’s book about her story
Jen Reid is a British Black Lives Matter activist
She is from Bristol
She is most famous for her statue that replaced Colston’s statue in Bristol in 2020, but she had been invested in activism before this
There is due to be a children’s book about her story
Civil rights in the USA/UK
Civil rights in the USA/UK
Civil rights in the USA/UK
Civil Rights artwork focused on the leading campaigners of the movement
Civil Rights artwork focused on the leading campaigners of the movement
Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Leader of the Cuban Revolution in the 1960s
Rebelled against American influence in Cuba in the Cold War
Believed in guerrilla warfare
Leader of the Cuban Revolution in the 1960s
Rebelled against American influence in Cuba in the Cold War
Believed in guerrilla warfare
Angela Davis
Angela Davis
American political activist
Member of the Communist Party USA
Campaigns for feminism and against the Vietnam War
American political activist
Member of the Communist Party USA
Campaigns for feminism and against the Vietnam War
Tommie Smith
1968 Olympics - Tommie Smith
Tommie won the 200m final, with his teammate John Carlos in 3rd.
On the podium, Tommie and Carlos made headlines around the world by raising their black-gloved fists.
Both athletes were suspended for this action
Jen Reid copied this stance when the Colston statue was toppled
Tommie won the 200m final, with his teammate John Carlos in 3rd.
On the podium, Tommie and Carlos made headlines around the world by raising their black-gloved fists.
Both athletes were suspended for this action
Jen Reid copied this stance when the Colston statue was toppled
From art to statues
Often, images of art can become more permanent through being turned into statues.
Often, images of art can become more permanent through being turned into statues.
I stood against the racism that my mother experienced, I experience and that my daughter experiences etc.
Female statues in England
There are significantly more male than female statues in England. According to the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, there were 828 statues in 2018, of which 174 are female (21% - roughly 1 in 5).
But not all of these statues are named – some are just of men and women. Of these 174 female statues, only 80 are named (46%).
Of 534 male statues, 422 of them are named (79%).
There are significantly more male than female statues in England. According to the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, there were 828 statues in 2018, of which 174 are female (21% - roughly 1 in 5).
But not all of these statues are named – some are just of men and women. Of these 174 female statues, only 80 are named (46%).
Of 534 male statues, 422 of them are named (79%).
Suffragettes 1860s-1920s
The Suffragist/Suffragette movement began in the late 1860s, with Bristol being the 5th city in England to have a Suffragist group (non-violent protests for women’s rights). They were protesting against the lack of rights for women, and focused on lots of speeches in the 1870s/80s.
By 1908, the Suffragettes became more active, with women being arrested during demonstrations, and other campaigners going on hunger strike. Arson attacks became common. These actions contributed to all women over 21 gaining the vote (which was the same rule as for men).
Millicent Fawcett received a statue in 2018, 90 years after making the women’s vote equal to men's’, and 89 years after her death.
The Suffragist/Suffragette movement began in the late 1860s, with Bristol being the 5th city in England to have a Suffragist group (non-violent protests for women’s rights). They were protesting against the lack of rights for women, and focused on lots of speeches in the 1870s/80s.
By 1908, the Suffragettes became more active, with women being arrested during demonstrations, and other campaigners going on hunger strike. Arson attacks became common. These actions contributed to all women over 21 gaining the vote (which was the same rule as for men).
Millicent Fawcett received a statue in 2018, 90 years after making the women’s vote equal to men's’, and 89 years after her death.
Icon
On the day Colston’s statue came down, Jen’s husband took a photo to capture the moment, which was seen around the world. Later, this photo was turned into a statue to create a more permanent reminder of the protest. This in turn has become associated with the Colston protest and the wider Black Lives Matter movement.
On the day Colston’s statue came down, Jen’s husband took a photo to capture the moment, which was seen around the world. Later, this photo was turned into a statue to create a more permanent reminder of the protest. This in turn has become associated with the Colston protest and the wider Black Lives Matter movement.
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I AM NOT A ROBOT
SUBMIT
"I would have loved to have seen things differently when I was younger."
Tom Simplson
"We’re slowly trying to find it ourselves, Because it was lacked in the curriculum"
A Student
"It's incredible that his history still hasn't been given a fair representation,"
Lawrence Hoo
"It has become a tsunami of enlightenment and information"
A Student
Please let us know your thoughts.
Choose your Avatar
I AM NOT A ROBOT
SUBMIT
"I would have loved to have seen things differently when I was younger."
Tom Simplson
"We’re slowly trying to find it ourselves, Because it was lacked in the curriculum"
A Student
"It's incredible that his history still hasn't been given a fair representation,"
Lawrence Hoo
"It has become a tsunami of enlightenment and information"
A Student
