1 week ago
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Culture Minister Francis Fonseca is backing historian Assad Shoman’s explanation for the controversial cover of his newly released book, A History of Belize in Thirteen Chapters. Fonseca says he understands the National Kriol Council’s concerns, but believes Shoman intended to get Belizeans talking about colonialism and the oppression that came with it.
The criticism centres on the depiction of two Black men on the cover of the book’s Sapphire Edition. The Council says their exaggerated features recall racial caricatures used to ridicule and dehumanise people of African descent. It has asked Shoman and the publisher to explain the choice and reconsider whether the image respects the dignity of the ancestors it represents.
Shoman says the artwork reproduces the British Honduras Coat of Arms issued in 1907. He maintains that he chose it to expose the racism and exploitation of colonial rule. Fonseca says he accepts that explanation and does not believe Shoman intended any disrespect towards Kriol people.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I mean, I’m sensitive to the concerns being expressed by the Belize, I think it’s Belize Kriole Council. But I also understand the point that Assad has made. I think he was, as he often does, was trying to provoke discussion and stimulate discussion about our colonial history, which is a colonial history of oppression, you know, of slavery, enslavement, of, you know, of real extraction, extracting from Belize our resources. And he has made the point that the cover photo is really, the same cover, it really is the 1907 coat of arms, right, the colonial coat of arms. And I think his thinking was that he would put that on the cover of the book to remind Belizeans and to provoke discussion about that colonial history and that colonial heritage of oppression. So, you know, I understand I’m sensitive to the views of the Creole council and I understand the points that they have made, but I also understand very clearly what Ambassador Shoman was trying to do. He is, you know, by every measure, he’s a Belizean nationalist. He’s a patriot. He’s an absolutely our best historian, national Belizean historian. So I know, I know for a fact that he did not mean at all any disrespect to the Kriol culture. But as he often does, he’s trying to stimulate and educate the Belizean people.”
The explanation has not settled the dispute. Detra Gillett, president of the Belize Kriol Heritage Association, has since requested that a representative inspect the original Royal Warrant at London’s College of Arms.
English (US) ·