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Stolen from Greenland (A thread).
A short-story about historic injustice and it’s ongoing relevance.
A short-story about historic injustice and it’s ongoing relevance.
In 1951, 22 children from Greenland were taken as part of a social experiment, to be schooled in Denmark and to learn the ways of the Danish elite. The plan - it is now accepted - was to create a Danish speaking (and leaning) elite in colonial Greenland.
The children were traumatized. Some - the Godhavn Boys - were beaten and abused in a number of homes for children https://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/research/ageofinquiry/biogs/E000162b.htm
Living first with families and then later in a Danish orphanage in Nuuk. One child, Helene Thiesen, talked about the experience to The BBC in 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33060450
The plan was lifted direct from the colonist playbook. The ‘new type of Greenlander’ the Danes wanted to create. The colonial Brits created or lifted elites that served their class interests in India (The Raj) and Kenya to name but two. Usually, formal education was the route.
For all but 6 kids the experiment was abandoned, but on return to Nuuk they were put in an orphanage rather than reunited with their families. They were ostracized even when returned home. And when adulthood came, many suffered chronic depression and alcoholism and died early.
A movie was released in 2010, amongst an appeal for an official apology from the Danish Government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eksperimentet#:~:text=In%201951%20the%20Danish%20colonial,Denmark%20for%20adoption%20and%20education.
An investigation was called for in 2011 in Denmark. But none arrived. Until February 2019. The results confirmed the experimental nature of what the children and their families had experienced, and today...
... The Danish PM issued an official apology on behalf of the Danish Government for the social experiment in 1951. She also wrote letters to the 6 surviving members. https://www.information.dk/telegram/2020/12/regeringen-siger-undskyld-22-groenlandske-boern?lst_frnt
How former colonial powers deal with historic abuses of power is a key issue today. Whether seen in tearing down statues, the naming of lecture halls, or the frank and open acknowledgement of the true scale of injustice. True contrition, in short.
Briton’s apology... https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/17/uk-still-uncertain-about-windrush-era-deportations
... and promise to stop deportations, has rung hollow https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/10/windrush-deporting-people
Here’s the problem for supposedly progressive, democratic societies: how to fully show true contrition meaningfully? the case for reparations is strong. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/09/british-slavery-reparations-economy-compensation
But there are large segments saying they have nothing to apologize for, and that it’s history. As if they don’t sit now in a state that grew on the exploitation of others. Tony Blair refused in 2001. Now the sentiment is being capitalized on https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-far-right-protests-statues-black-lives-matter-tommy-robinson-a9564051.html
The democracy Vs equality debate then becomes central. How can genuine contrition be reached? Although transparent investigations and apologies (followed by action or restraint) seem to be accepted by some as part of it. But reparations won’t go away. And nor should they.
The Social experiment that Denmark undertook on Greenlandic children 70 years ago shows that generational trauma is real, and even the most progressive societies need to genuinely confront their pasts. Not all are willing. From Blair to May, we Brits still wrestle with this.
All this I learned about since I came here to Denmark and much of it, today.... I was very moved by the story. I thought that it would not be something that appeared much in British media. Hence the share. Thanks for reading. 
