Shakespeare's birthplace to be 'decolonized' after British researchers say his work enables 'White supremacy'

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The organization overseeing museums celebrating English playwright William Shakespeare’s life is reportedly working to "decolonize" his legacy in the name of battling White supremacy.

The Telegraph reported that Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, a British nonprofit in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, is working toward "decolonizing" its collection of Shakespeare-related artifacts to "create a more inclusive museum experience." 

In recent years, critics in the UK have been scrutinizing aspects of its history, even down to criticizing the use of the term "Anglo-Saxon" to describe the native peoples for which England was named. Now Shakespeare, despite being born in 1564 and largely writing plays that took place in Western Europe, is being scrutinized for his alleged impact on colonialism. 

The process of decolonizing Shakespeare’s work reportedly includes researching "the continued impact of colonialism" on world history and the ways in which "Shakespeare's work has played a part in this." The effort, which roughly means distancing work from western perspectives, reportedly began after concerns were raised that celebration of Shakespeare enables "White supremacy."

The trust has also warned that some items in its collections and archives relating to the iconic 16th century playwright may contain "language or depictions that are racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise harmful."

Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust reportedly worked on a research project with the University of Birmingham's Dr. Helen Hopkins, and concluded that praise of Shakespeare as a "universal" genius "benefits the ideology of White European supremacy." Their research concluded further that "colonial inculcation" spread European ideas about art and used Shakespeare as a symbol of "British cultural superiority" and "Anglo-cultural supremacy."

GRTWT. 

AND THEN THERE'S THIS:

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