Britain’s black luminaries have dismissed King Charles’ visit to a center for African culture and heritage as “hot air”, suggesting it was a missed opportunity to tackle issues of racism.
The King visited the new headquarters of the Africa Center in London on Thursday, where he saw an exhibition on climate change and heard about “the role the Africa Center plays in connecting Africans in the UK with the global diaspora”, according to the charity.
But the visit drew criticism, with one person with a historical connection to Central Africa dismissing the visit as a public relations exercise for the palace to “sanitize its battered image” around race. They added that the center appeared to be “deaf” in inviting the King for a “futile” visit.
“Dialogue, interaction, or engagements by any purportedly black organization with the royal family that fails to address the critical issues of colonialism, racism, and reparations, is futile and pointless,” said the person who asked to remain anonymous. The independent.
“This visit suggests that the current iteration of the Africa Center is ill-advised, earless, disengaged or uncaring about the feelings and thoughts of Black people across the UK. Either way, it’s a very bad look for the center.”
With an original remit to foster non-governmental relations between newly independent Africa and Britain, the Africa Center’s current mission is to educate, connect and advocate for Africa and its global diaspora.
The mission of the Africa Center is to educate, connect and advocate for Africa and its global diaspora.
(PENNSYLVANIA)
Professor Gus John, an academic and campaigner for equality and human rights, described the royal visit as a “miserable, overdue affair”.
The academic pointed to King Charles’ editorship of Britain’s leading black newspaper,The voice, in October, prompting a huge backlash from black communities, with the visit to the center a cause for concern.
“Those who invite Charles to edit their newspaper or visit their centers do not realize that we as Africans have a totally different relationship with the British monarchy than the rest of the population, especially white Britain,” said the Professor John. The independent.
“It is about time that we take every opportunity to remind the palace of that. It is that relationship that frames the demands that the monarchy come to the table and address issues of racial grievances, the genocide they committed or benefited from, the continuing impact of slavery and dehumanization on this and future generations of descendants of enslaved Africans. .”
Prince Charles visiting the Africa Center in 1988
(The Center of Africa)
However, John Mensah, a former trustee of the center and consultant to charities, said the independent that the visit was a good opportunity to improve the status of the center. “The leaders of the center revere King Carlos,” she said.
“I was told that the center wants to use this as an opportunity to highlight that the king is a friend of the black community and to create a springboard into the healing process, so that the palace can properly engage with the community.
“I hope it’s a catalyst for positive engagement.”
Lawyer and media commentator Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said the independent: “Until King Charles is ready to apologize on behalf of the crown he wears and talk about restorative justice, this visit to the Africa Center is performative and lip service.”
A spokesperson for the Africa Center: “We recognize the strong feelings that some of our valued communities have regarding the King’s visit and we fully welcome and respect the divergence of opinion that we believe can only unite us.
“This was a historic opportunity not only for Her Majesty to visit our recently opened headquarters, but also for us to start dialogues on a range of critical issues, such as the empowerment of the UK African Diaspora, particularly young people, and the impact of climate change. in Africa.
“El Rey has a history of supporting grassroots and community organizations.”
This was the King’s second visit to the center. He visited in 1988 to officially open the Zimbabwe Exhibition of Contemporary Stone Sculptures, a high-profile exhibition organized by the center and held at the Barbican.
In June 2022, Charles said he was continuing to “deepen his own understanding of the lasting impact of slavery”, in a speech at the opening of the Commonwealth summit in Rwanda.
The palace declined to comment.
