Shakespeare’s Birthplace to Be ‘De-Colonised’ Over White Supremacy Fears

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William Shakespeare's birthplace will be de-colonised over fears that portraying his success as the 'greatest' playwright 'benefits the ideology of white European supremacy'.

Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust owns buildings in the playwright's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.

It wants to 'create a more inclusive museum experience' and announced it will move away from Western perspectives after concerns were raised that Shakespeare's ideas were used to advance 'white supremacy' ideas.

The trust also said that some of its items could contain language or depictions that are racist, sexist, or homophobic.

It comes amid an ongoing backlash against the writer. Some productions of his works have been slapped with trigger warnings for misogyny, racism and 'problematic radicalised dynamics' that link whiteness to beauty.

In 2022, a research project between the trust and Dr Helen Hopkins at the University of Birmingham postulated that the idea of Shakespeare's 'universal' genius 'benefits the ideology of white European supremacy'.

This is because European culture is portrayed as the standard for high art and the playwright as a symbol of British 'superiority', according to The Telegraph.

The project said this narrative has caused harm, and advised that the trust stop saying Shakespeare was the 'greatest' but part of a community of 'equal and different' writers globally.

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