What was included in the review
We have many examples of things in our city which have links with slavery and colonialism in the past. This includes statues of people. It also includes buildings and streets named after Edinburgh people linked to slavery or colonialism. These show us how much slavery and colonialism shaped life in the city.
The review group discussed the best way to decide what to include in the review. The group also talked about how to present the information in an easy way to understand. The group followed UNESCO's approach. This made it easier to explain the history and meaning behind these things in our city. The approach also connected today's issues with what we inherited from the past. The Black Lives Matter movement has made these connections world-wide.
The group agreed that this is approach is very relevant to the work of the review in Edinburgh.
Taking a themed approach
The group agreed to take a themed approach when asking residents and groups in Edinburgh their views. The review group put the features under headings which are familiar to us all. This means that we didn’t have to discuss every single feature but can take a view about each theme.
The group identified around 40 features which came under one of ten themes:
- Edinburgh’s New Town and the physical expansion of the city, 1767 – 1850
- International trade and the profits from slavery and colonialism
- Politics and patronage in Great Britain and the colonies
- Inspiring individual stories
- Role of the military in sustaining slavery and colonialism
- Legacy of intellectuals, academic institutions and hospitals
- Churches, churchmen, slavery and colonialism
- Slavery and colonialism in the arts and literature
- Edinburgh and the abolition movement
- Funding educational foundations from the profits of slavery.