Conflicted about Jubilee celebrations?

[alilstressed]

Our DC have come home excited about their school's planned activities to celebrate the jubilee. I'm a bit meh about it all. It did spark an interesting conversation with DP about how far, we as Black people of Caribbean heritage should invest in this. He was saying he remembered what he did at school for the Silver Jubilee and with the knowledge he has now, regrets it and would rather our children are not involved. I see it as a potential learning moment, to find a way to educate our children. Any other Black parents had thoughts on this?

I'm having the same dilemma at home. I understand that British schools will acknowledge and celebrate it but my child is of Caribbean decent and it doesn't sit well with me that full spectrum of truth is ignored in favour of celebration. Effectively, they're being asked to celebrate an institution that completely destroyed the lives of their ancestors and our home land (Jamaica) has never fully recovered 😔

I have been very clear with my children about the history of Britain, the Royal family and my views on the obsequious behaviour of people around the royals. There are lots of celebrations and I've told the children, by all means join the party but remember you bow to no one.

@Malariahilaria that's pretty much the course of action we're taking here. She's pretty clued up on the realities of the British Empire so whilst it's unrealistic to exclude her from a whole school celebration, I draw the line at Boeing to anyone, singing the National anthem, etc.

I don't have children yet but I wish I booked a weekend break to get away from it all.

I will not be celebrating either. They are having a Jubilee party where I live. I have no interest in any of it. For myself as a black person I see no need to celebrate anything to do with Royalty.

This. No way are we joining in the circus.

We are a white family but I totally agree that it's ridiculous and very outdated to be celebrate anything to do with the monarchy.

It would have to be abroad.

Depending on the age of your children use it as a opportunity to teach them about British Royalty and the House of Lords.

I'm mixed race and I feel a bit ambivalent about it all. We can't change history, but because terrible things happened in the past, that doesn't necessarily mean that I would reject the celebrations. After all, it's a celebration of the queen's life and reign, and it's not as if she was directly involved in slavery. I can quite see why other people might think differently though.

I'm having the same dilemma at home. I understand that British schools will acknowledge and celebrate it but my child is of Caribbean decent and it doesn't sit well with me that full spectrum of truth is ignored in favour of celebration. Effectively, they're being asked to celebrate an institution that completely destroyed the lives of their ancestors and our home land (Jamaica) has never fully recovered

You could argue the same about Wales or Scotland.

But your children are British. And their descendants will be even more British.
DH's DF was an immigrant and was horrified when his children supported British or English sports teams etc, but acknowledged he'd moved here to give them a better life and the cultural celebrations are all part and parcel of that.
Keep your own, but don't hinder your descendants integration by insisting they don't participate.

It isn’t about integration is it? It’s about not celebrating a brutal past. One can do that and still be integrated. Many white British born people won’t be celebrating it. Does that mean they are not integrated.

People from ethnic minorities should not think they need to accept or celebrate something that has put them and their descendants on disadvantaged footing for them to “integrate”.

The Queen may not have been directly involved in slavery and other abuses but boy has she benefited DIRECTLY from these abuses. That’s the issue.

As for me, I am a republican but I wish her well.

@Justkeeppedaling

Well yes. You could argue the same about Wales and Scotland.

I don't know what's happening in Wales, but in the part of Scotland I'm in, there doesn't seem to be much happening with the Jubilee at all. I don't know anyone who is celebrating it! It's just not an important thing for many people.

Well said.

I like many other people who are descendants of people from countries of the former British Empire had parents and older ancestors who were British subjects or British citizens so came to Britain as British.

So tell me exactly how much more integrated do you want me and the millions of other black, brown and yellow people with similar histories to be?

I guess you don't understand Windrush and the issues around it.

How incredibly patronising.

I'll raise my child however I like and it will never include showing reverence to an institution that consistently treats people like us with utter contempt.

As for her descendants, that's quite the crystal ball you have there.

I see it as celebration for those who view the royal family in one way and a learning opportunity for most.

My mum will be celebrating as her parents LOVED the queen- I’ll be humouring her because she’s my mum, she feels like she’s honouring my grandparents but I have already had conversations with my dc about it. My mum is really reminiscing about the silver jubilee when my GP were around and the feelings she had then.