While Elizabeth ruled as Britain navigated a post-colonial era, she still bore a connection to its colonial past, which was rooted in racism and violence against Asian and African colonies.
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Queen Elizabeth's death revives criticism of Britain's legacy of colonialism
The death of Queen Elizabeth II revived criticism of her legacy, highlighting the complicated feelings of those who saw her as a symbol of the British colonial empire — an institution that enriched itself through violence, theft and oppression.
Among many residents of former British colonies, such as India and Kenya, the reaction to the queen's death ranged from benign interest to anger and disdain.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Twitter feeds across India exploded with angry demands for the repatriation of a precious diamond called the Kohinoor, which has become a symbol of Britain’s often bloody history of colonial conquest and rule.
For many South Asians, the queen’s death represents the chipping away of an institution that dictated the lives of their parents and grandparents — even their own in some cases, they said.
History highlights the true impact of the former British empire — even if royalists, and Fox News hosts, would rather ignore it.
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