Historic statue removal

Introduction
Pros
- Pro 1: These statues misrepresent history, glorifying people who perpetuated slavery and seceded from the country.
- Pro 2: These statues are racist and offensive and pay homage to hate.
- Pro 3: These statues should be replaced with monuments that reflect the country’s historic progress and diversity.
Cons
- Con 1: Statues are useful “teachable moments”—removing them is to censor, whitewash, and potentially forget history.
- Con 2: These statues do not cause racism but can be used to fight it if put into historical context.
- Con 3: Statue removal is a slippery slope that can endanger monuments to worthy heroes, no matter how imperfect these heroes or their times may have been.
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Bronze figures of Confederate soldiers lie strapped on a flatbed truck as workers dismantle a monument near the University of Louisville campus, with construction equipment in the background.

“Southern Cross”

A small child walks in front of a vandalized monument base where a statue of Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson once stood, with Black Lives Matter graffiti visible.

Historic statue removal: Media

Should historic statues be taken down?

Images

Bronze figures of Confederate soldiers lie strapped on a flatbed truck as workers dismantle a monument near the University of Louisville campus, with construction equipment in the background.

Confederate monument dismantled

Should historic statues be taken down?

© Dcslim/Dreamstime.com

“Southern Cross”

“Southern Cross”

The controversial battle flag of the Northern Virginia Army (also known as the “Confederate...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A small child walks in front of a vandalized monument base where a statue of Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson once stood, with Black Lives Matter graffiti visible.

Confederate statue removal

Black Lives Matter graffiti on the pedestal where statues of Confederate Army generals...

Win McNamee/Getty Images

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: