On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. As the world mourned the longest-reigning British matriarch– Black Twitter (Black Americans and diasporans) shared its not-so-positive thoughts on the 96-year-old woman’s death.
Black Twitter made no qualms about not caring about the British monarch dying. The responses were ridiculously petty, and some even gave in-depth history lessons supporting the masses’ nonchalant attitude about Queen Elizabeth’s death.
The news: The Queen has passed away.
Black Twitter, Ireland, the Caribbean Massive & every former British colony: pic.twitter.com/jzGeUFJU4f
— Chocolate Rain 🇧🇧🇬🇩 (@risingdemise) September 8, 2022
One Twitter user clearly explained why Queen Elizabeth’s legacy didn’t deserve respect.
“Reminder that Queen Elizabeth is not a remnant of colonial times. She was an active participant in colonialism. She actively tried to stop independence movements & she tried to keep newly independent colonies from leaving the Commonwealth. The evil she did was enough.”
Reminder that Queen Elizabeth is not a remnant of colonial times. She was an active participant in colonialism. She actively tried to stop independence movements & she tried to keep newly independent colonies from leaving the commonwealth. The evil she did was enough https://t.co/SDGi0boCzx
— Nsafoa’s Feminist Duck 🏳️🌈 (@YaaAsantewaaBa) September 8, 2022
Another Twitter user dropped a meme of the late and beloved Princess Diana arriving in hell, heaven or purgatory. The two women were often at odds, although Lady Di attempted to please Queen Elizabeth.
princess diana as soon as queen elizabeth arrives pic.twitter.com/pSYPdrzsae
— backendchild 🥰 (@nolimitjb21) September 9, 2022
i don’t feel bad for queen elizabeth at all actually.. she ruled over colonies guilt free, she defended her son who groomed children on epstein’s island, she banned racial minorities from working for her until the late 60s & she’s just generally a terrible person
— suri (@suricidal) September 8, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II owns the largest clear cut diamond in the world Known as ‘The Great Star of Africa’ the 530 carats gem was mined in South Africa back in 1905. It was stolen from South Africa. It has an estimated worth of $400 million. pic.twitter.com/HesTmGTv4d
— Africa Archives ™ (@Africa_Archives) September 8, 2022
The Queen’s death also seemed to create an unlikely alliance between Black folks and the Irish on Twitter, as some folks pointed out. Ireland and England have an 800-year-beef.
Black Twitter and Irish Twitter on this unexpected Queen Elizabeth collab: pic.twitter.com/TcFZ3c5iUg
— House TarBlackian (@JaeWiggz) September 9, 2022
*Queen Elizabeth dies*
*Black & Irish Twitter become unhinged*
Me scrolling on Black twitter for the last 3 hours: pic.twitter.com/7S8ObK1obA
— jih like yeah. (@_KayEmmDee_) September 8, 2022
Black Twitter and Irish Twitter finding out Queen Elizabeth died pic.twitter.com/ccZHkn0a1O
— leakton (@leaktonn) September 9, 2022
On September 8, Buckingham Palace announced Queen Elizabeth had died after a bout with a short illness that was publicized on the same day.
A statement was issued about the matriarch’s decline.
“Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
Newly-minted King Charles wrote a brief message about his mother’s passing on the Palace’s official website.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world,” he wrote.
“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held,” King Charles concluded.
The disdain and disregard of Queen Elizabeth’s death by Black Americans, continental Africans and diasporans are founded on Britain’s colonization of the people and their homelands. The British had the lock on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, where Black Americans were stolen from the shores of Africa and used as chattel to build the United States. At one point, Britain had colonized 30% of Africa, including Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria–making it the European nation with the most considerable grip on the continent. Britain’s reign of terror in the Caribbean began as early as 1623 in Saint Kitts. The country also had its grasp on Grenada, The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica– among other nations.
