After it was announced Queen Elizabeth II had died, Black Twitter and Irish Twitter began to cut up. And let’s just say nothing was off limits. Outside of the snarky tweets, several people made a case as to why Blacks shouldn’t honor the "colonizer” Queen (their words, not ours) after her death. See what all the fuss is about inside…
While millions around the world are currently mourning the death of the longest-reigning British monarch - others are not. Yesterday, it was announced Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully surrounded by members of the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle, her beloved summer estate in the Scottish Highlands.
After the announcement, folks took to social media to express their feelings, and while there were many in mourning, some people were glad that she transitioned. The reason? Racism and colonialism.
Ex-England soccer player TrevorSinclair took to Twitter to explain why “black and brown” people should not mourn The Queen’s passing since she allowed racism to thrive during her 70-year reign.
”Racism was outlawed in England in the 60's & it's been allowed to thrive so why should black and brown mourn!!,” he tweeted (and eventually deleted).
Not long after, talkSPORT suspended TrevorSinclair after the radio station launched a formal investigation into the tweet. The radio station has confirmed the former England soccer player "will not be on air" while it establishes the "circumstances and timing" of his controversial tweet.
Read their statement below:
Trevor Sinclair will not be on air while we carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances and timing of his tweet.
While we respect the right of Trevor Sinclair to express his opinion on his personal twitter account, talkSPORT does not endorse the tweet.
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 9, 2022
He wasn’t the only one….
Right before The Queen’s death was announced (following reports of “concern” for her health), UjuAnya, associate professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had Twitter in a frenzy with her tweets about the British royal.
”I heard the chief monarch of a thieving raping genocial empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating,” Uju tweeted.
Twitter deleted that post for violating their rules.
In another tweet, she wrote:
If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star.
— Uju Anya (@UjuAnya) September 8, 2022
”If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star.”
”That wretched woman and her bloodthirsty throne have f***** generations of my ancestors on both sides of the family, and she supervised a government that sponsored the genocide my parents and siblings survived. May she die in agony.”
Twitter also deleted the post above for violating its terms.
Amazon billionaire JeffBezos slammed Uju for her tweet:
This is someone supposedly working to make the world better? I don’t think so. Wow. https://t.co/2zoi6CdFMq
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) September 8, 2022
”This is someone supposedly working to make the world better? I don’t think so. Wow,” he tweeted in response.
Uju didn’t waste time to pop back.
Otoro gba gbue gi.
May everyone you and your merciless greed have harmed in this world remember you as fondly as I remember my colonizers.
— Uju Anya (@UjuAnya) September 8, 2022
”May everyone you and your merciless greed have harmed in this world remember you as fondly as I remember my colonizers,” she responded. Folks also dragged Jeff for that tweet, noting how he treats his Amazon employees. Hmph.
Professor Anya continued to retweet examples of history lessons that show how The Queen was an active participant in colonialism.
Reminder that Queen Elizabeth is not a remnant of colonial times. She was an active participant in colonialism. She actively tried to stop independence movements & she tried to keep newly independent colonies from leaving the commonwealth. The evil she did was enough https://t.co/SDGi0boCzx
— Nsafoa's Feminist Duck (@YaaAsantewaaBa) September 8, 2022
Real question for the “now is not the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism” crowd:
When is the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism?
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) September 8, 2022
Telling the colonized how they should feel about their colonizer's health and wellness is like telling my people that we ought to worship the Confederacy.
"Respect the dead" when we're all writing these Tweets *in English.* How'd that happen, hm? We just chose this language?
— Ebony Elizabeth Thomas (@Ebonyteach) September 8, 2022
Points were made.
Carnegie Mellon University reacted to Juju’s tweets about The Queen, saying they do “not condone the offensive and objectionable messages.”
Also...
“For 96 years, that colonizer has been sucking up the Earth's resources," TirhakahLove, senior newsletter writer for New York Magazine, wrote in his Thursday evening newsletter.“You can't be a literal oppressor and not expect the people you've oppressed not to rejoice on news of your death.”
ding dong https://t.co/ZytN96v2JGpic.twitter.com/VtRAsg72N6
— skkrrtt cobain (@tirhakahlove) September 8, 2022
You can read the full newsletter here.
Jemele Hill - contributing writer at The Atlantic - also shared her thoughts about journalists reacting to The Queen’s death.
Journalists are tasked with putting legacies into full context, so it is entirely appropriate to examine the queen and her role in the devastating impact of continued colonialism.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 8, 2022
“Journalists are tasked with putting legacies into full context, so it is entirely appropriate to examine the queen and her role in the devastating impact of continued colonialism,” she tweeted.
The Queen as a symbol means many things to many people — and that is fine. It’s fine to write about, discuss, analyze, critique or celebrate.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 9, 2022
”The Queen as a symbol means many things to many people — and that is fine. It’s fine to write about, discuss, analyze, critique or celebrate," Jemele wrote in another tweet.
Real question for the “now is not the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism” crowd:
When is the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism?
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) September 8, 2022
Washington Post writer EugeneScott shared his opinions about colonialism under The Queen.
”Real question for the 'now is not the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism' crowd: When is the appropriate time to talk about the negative impact of colonialism?” he asked.
Check out his CNN report about it:
Queen Elizabeth was not universally loved in Africa.
My CNN live report on colonialism, fairytales and the Africans who refuse to mourn her death pic.twitter.com/1PyK2l6vqZ
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) September 9, 2022
Peep more tweets circulating below:
British are welcome to be solemn and serious, but shey should be warned of what its like living beside ye's https://t.co/WYGsdHQdGGpic.twitter.com/ZfHHPPG4JF
— Cúhdí (@Kaizey) September 8, 2022
Even if the queen wasn’t directly responsible for the atrocious act carried out by the monarchy or acting as head of state during it (which she was for a lot) she has never once apologized or attempted to make amends for her ancestors who made her life of privilege possible.
— maybe: diane (@dianelyssa) September 8, 2022
The Irish in my family have the ability to take everything and nothing seriously at the same time. This tracks.
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) September 8, 2022
Thoughts?
Black Twitter and Irish Twitter have been cutting up with memes and things:
Irish and Black Twitter roasting Queen Elizabeth: pic.twitter.com/dVrT6AhfYi
— Jack Russell (@JolietJack) September 8, 2022
All the white ppl clutching their pearls about the jokes on Black Twitter when the Irish are doing this https://t.co/WbmyR1D0gY
— Ana R (@BadCodeShoot) September 8, 2022
Irish, Indian, Kenyan, Nigerian, South African, and Caribbean Twitter right now. pic.twitter.com/MEBJWZPyLZ
— uNgwane (@comradesipho) September 8, 2022
give us the diamonds back and i'll pretend to be sad!!!!!!!!!!
— scaachi (@Scaachi) September 8, 2022
Zero chill.
In other news…
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children are now entitled to HRH titles. They will now be called Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has elevated her son King Charles III to the throne, with Prince William next in line.
We've tracked the path of royal succession to the throne — down to the 23rd in line. https://t.co/qZcy9YJBgUpic.twitter.com/H4eyx64iKo
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 8, 2022
As grandchildren of the newly named King Charles III they now have an HRH style title - if they wish to use it.
Photo: viewimage/Shutterstock/LinkedIn
