MC: "How dare you insult me calling me ignorant"
G: "Being called ignorant isn't an insult, consult the dictionary for it's meaning"
MC: "That's because I know enough to not give a fuck about learning any more, because 200 years down the line its largely irrelevant".
G: "Exhibit "T" in evidenced ignorance. It's highly relevant Mick, what is going on around the world right now is highly relevant and largely stems form these times. But clearly, because it's so long ago (and arguably because you are white) that doesn't compute, so how about this for relevance. The compensation bill that was made to British Slave owners was the largest bailout in the history of mankind (more than that of the financial bailout of 2008 allowing for inflation) it was so vast (£20m in 1833) that the UK taxpayer only finished paying it off in 2015!! That's modern-day repercussions, it's just one of so many more reasons why it's still relevant.
MC: "Make sure you learn about the white slaves as well, they weren't all black and they weren't all from Africa".
G: I'm learning everything Mick, it's the whole point mate. When I'm told about Colston I don't just want to know that he donated to build a school and he's a statue to commemorate him every day to thank him for being so generous, I also want it to be known how his wealth was accumulated and his role in the deaths of hundreds of people. Without this knowledge we are being treated like mugs.
MC: "But you know something, we learned from it, realised it was shit AND WE DONT FUCKING DO IT ANY MORE".
G: "If it was so shit and we don't do it anymore (not entirely true but it's not legal and state-supported but slavery is very much alive and kicking in Britain) it needs to be on the national curriculum rather than whitewashed from history entirely. In Germany the Holocaust is on the national curriculum; Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung (learning from the past), rather being selective in what is taught in schools and airbrushing the shit bits out they have adopted the very thing missing from our own education. The quest for atonement, for recognition of shame, is not in itself shameful. Contrition, leading to reconciliation, need not foul our nest.
Can you list those books for me Mick? Ta muchly.