Editorial

Even in the context of 2020, it’s mad to think how much things can change in four weeks. Sitting down to write my Editorial last month, I struggled to think of something – anything – to write about. Life had settled into an incomprehensible groundhog day where time had lost all meaning. Everything that could be written about lockdown had already been said countless times, and I ended up scribbling down some goofy nonsense about the qualities of doing nothing. Now, just four short weeks later, we’re in the midst of a genuine social movement against racism.

The murder of George Floyd was the catalyst that sparked anti-racism protests all over the world on a scale that hadn’t been seen since the Civil Rights Movement, and it was inspiring to see Britain play its part. I’m probably not alone in thinking that the sight of a statue being toppled and rolled into a river was one I was unlikely to see in my lifetime, particularly in a country that, historically at least, is not particularly inclined toward revolution. I was also proud to see the size and strength of Nottingham’s participation, particularly at the Black Lives Matter protest at Forest Rec.

The coming together of different genders, races, religions, ages and sexualities in that place, at that time, felt historic, and displayed how collectively passionate we are, as a community, to get rid of systemic racism. A fact later echoed by the Black Lives Matter banner which now adorns the front of the Council House. However, as far as we’ve come, a cursory browse through the Nottinghamshire Live comments section on any given day will show you how far we still have to go.

It’s also important to consider that history doesn’t just remember the victories, but also how the victors acquitted themselves. In the fight for equality, we’ve come to the brink of risking valuable traits like pluralism, context and compromise, all of which are essential in any free society. Watching Twitter mobs gleefully ending careers, whether justified or not, with that terrifying Percy Whitmore energy is unsettling to see, and feels like it has no place in whatever better future we’re trying to build. If we want to be on the right side of history, it’s good to remember that it’s not just what we do, but how we do it.

We’re also at the brink of another major crossroads, in that life (at least at time of writing) is beginning to return to something resembling normality with the re-opening of shops, pubs and other venues. With that announcement, we’re hoping that this will be the last online-only issue of LeftLion for the time being and that our August edition will be printed again as normal. I can’t lie: it will be a great feeling to hold a physical magazine again.

I can’t thank all of the photographers, writers, illustrators and contributors enough for all of their hard work and creativity, as well as the late nights, rambling emails and last-minute requests they’ve had to put up with from me during lockdown. You’ve all been amazing, and without that support we would never have been able to continue creating magazines over the past few months.

Enjoy our July issue, and I’ll (hopefully) see you back in print for August.

Until the next one,

Ashley Carter, Editor

ashley.carter@leftlion.co.uk