Black Lives Matter and History

John Hamilton's statue is removed after threats of vandalism

In New Zealand, the Black Lives Matter movement has led to demands that the statue of John Hamilton should be removed as it is an offense to some Maori.  Statues of Captain James Cook have been defaced.

John Hamilton was a British naval officer who fought in the New Zealand Wars.  He fell in the Battle of Gate Pa in April 1864.

Members of the Tainui tribe claim that those who took part in the Battle were murderers, not soldiers.

Historian Vincent O'Malley has suggested that local historical Maori figures were more worthy of memorial statues such as [Pōtatau] Te Wherowhero, Tāwhiao, Wiremu Tamihana, or Rewi Maniapoto.  

Ironically, some of these figures also fought on the opposing side in the New Zealand Wars.  Who is to say which side of the conflict should be memorialized?  

If one looks hard enough, one will find a moral fault or crime amongst nearly all of a society's historical figures when judged on present-day standards and perspectives.

Slavery is also caught up in the Black Lives Matters controversy because of its influence on African American history.  Slavery is an anathema in modern society.  Yet slavery was a normal part of Maori society in the 1800s and had been for hundreds of years.  

Slaves were subservient and treated as property.  Maori hired out their slaves as labour to the early settlers.  There are other aspects of Maori society that are even more inflammatory.

Ultimately, no one is faultless.  

Jesus said, he who is without sin, should cast the first stone (John 8:7).

There are two elements to solving this issue:  The first is racism.  The second is to achieve repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.

False racist ideas between two people groups about each other can be dispelled through increased contact and leadership.  

Worldviews such as Social Darwinism can be countered through an understanding that God created all of humankind and He loves all of His creation (Genesis 1).  And all of humankind is called to follow His ways (Psalm 67).  

Dispelling false ideas is not enough.  Bringing healing through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation is also necessary.

Any science fiction aficionado will know that First Contact between two societies is a fraught and risky process.  The chance of misunderstanding with potentially lethal consequences is high.

Ngati Oneone experienced first contact fatalities and are still aggrieved.  Captain James Cook suffered lethal first contact violence himself in Hawaii. 

Without forgiveness and reconciliation, the issue will continue to be a source of offense and growing animosity that will have unfortunate consequences for future generations.  

And why should we forgive?  Because God our Creator commands us to.  It is part of His 13 attributes to forgive iniquity and we are commanded to follow His ways (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).  

We must therefore also forgive iniquity.  Unless we do, whether we be Maori or Pakeha (non-Maori), there will never be lasting peace.

Black Lives Matter and Statues of Historical Figures

Police guard Churchill's statue from Black Lives Matter Protesters

Over the last few days, the Black Lives Matters movement has shifted its attention to the destruction, damage, or defacing of statues commemorating historical figures who had racist views. 

Statues of Edward Colston, Winston Churchill, and even Captain James Cook have been pulled down or defaced.

Protesters will find that each of these figures will have mixed backgrounds.  Those commemorated will have done much societal good which is why they were remembered at all.  

At the same time, they will be "guilty" of moral failures based on today's values, even though what they may have done in their time was the prevailing wisdom at the time.

A good example is Winston Churchill.  He is rightly lauded for his efforts in leading the UK to victory over the Axis powers and helping to save the world from Fascism.  

On the other hand, he believed in a hierarchy of ethnic groups, with Caucasians at the top.  But like all of humanity, he was a product of his time.  Ideas of Social Darwinism were widely held in Western societies from the late 1800s through into the middle of the 20th Century.  

Social Darwinism led to ideas such as eugenics.  Josef Mengele's evil was not inspired in a vacuum.

Should we judge Churchill based on present-day ideas and perspectives?  Yes, but we can only do so fairly if we keep in mind that his ideas were widely held in his day.  

Historians call evaluating historical events based on present-day attitudes and perspectives as "Presentism."

Some believe it should be avoided as it is a form of cultural bias.  

Others think "presentism" is a fallacy.

In my view, Presentism is unavoidable.  It's impossible to evaluate history without being biased by present-day values and worldviews.

And the conclusions drawn are not necessarily erroneous.  

So should all memory of Churchill, Colston, or Cook be censored?

No.  

The Bible itself gives us guidance about how to treat history.  

Many of its figures are not purely good nor exclusively evil.  

David was a "man after God's own heart," (1 Samuel 13:14) yet he was also an adulterer and murderer who brought much suffering upon his people (1 Samuel 11).

Yet the bible confidently portrays its historical figures as they are:  Warts along with beauty spots.

Why?  Because their examples provide both positive and negative examples for us all to learn.  

The bible's example shows that historical statues should not be hidden away.  

Instead, they should be in full view for all to see and study, so that humanity may benefit from both the positive and negative lessons that each provides.