I have an ongoing concern with the National Trust and in particular with their desire to continually hide the historic truth behind the causes of extreme wealth for their historical property owners. In many cases they were heavily involved in the capture, torture, suffering and death of slaves used to generate their wealth.One such property is West Green House Garden. It is a National Trust property located in Hampshire, EnglandTainted with symbolism of Slavery & RacismThe gardens are beautiful and the plants are a joy, however you will find on your journey through the gardens a statue of an African slave, bended upon one knee, carrying the burden of a sun dial, facing in subservience to the manor house.And here I stand yet again at another of the National Trusts properties which echoes their colonial and racist past.Why is this statue, set in a pseudo plantation with caged birds in the background, still being presented as some form of folly? The hurt it causes is a deep scar.If you are a visitor to this place perhaps you may want to have a conversation with them about this symbolism and ask them why they feel it appropriate to show such a disrespectful and disgraceful scene, as if it were funny and entertaining."Simply Hurtful and Hateful"I would expect nothing less from the National Trust. They continually refuse to tell the real truth about their properties, choosing always to ignore the horrendous pain and suffering caused to slaves with a turn of their head. It is easier for them to face the flowers, and never the music.Please do visit if you want to, but please also understand the hurt that the National Trust perpetuate and refuse to address, even to this day.Edited in reply to National Trust response 9th Sep '24Your response is appreciated. However your emotionless tone remains a core concern for me and many, many others.You appear to think that it is okay to leave the statue depicting a subservient slave in situ, and to a so called slave master!Let me be clear by providing you with a very brief history lesson on slavery, and how slaves suffered immense pain and cruelty - perhaps then you could reply once more?In the not too distant past, human beings from African tribes were captured against their will and taken away from their families and homeland. They were transported by boat to places where slavery was rife. This includes the Americas.It was not uncommon for a slave to rebel against their captors by refusing to do as they ordered. To make an example of that slave the captors broke their arms and legs by blunt force, using something not too dissimilar to a sledge hammer, leaving them shackled in chains and whilst they screamed in agony; they were thrown overboard to a certain, and very slow death.Perhaps you'd like to reflect on this historical truth, and tell me once more that you should leave that statue in situ!
