Can a statue ignite global change? In one moment, just after a statue of a slave trader was pulled down, Jen Reid stood tall, raised her fist and sent ripples around the globe.
Listen as Jen explores the intersection of art, activism, and public monuments, challenging us to rethink our relationship with the past and envision a more inclusive future.
Attention - this video contains some flashing imagery Jen Reid is an author and activist from Bristol. After the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down and pushed into the Bristol Harbour following the Black Lives Matter Protest, Jen climbed on to the now empty plinth and raised her fist in the Black Power salute. This iconic moment was then recreated in the sculpture A Surge of Power 2020. Jen has since been found everywhere from television screens to classrooms helping people, young and old understand the importance that history, particularly statues, have on our society and personal identities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx