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Joshua Nott: Rhodes Must Fall activist wins Rhodes scholarship | Joshua Nott: Rhodes Must Fall activist wins Rhodes scholarship |
(35 minutes later) | |
A South African activist who campaigned to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes has been given a place at Oxford - as a Rhodes scholar. | A South African activist who campaigned to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes has been given a place at Oxford - as a Rhodes scholar. |
Joshua Nott, 23, has been branded a hypocrite on social media for accepting the £40,000 ($49,925) scholarship. | Joshua Nott, 23, has been branded a hypocrite on social media for accepting the £40,000 ($49,925) scholarship. |
Mr Nott was a key figure in the Rhodes Must Fall movement at the University of Cape Town. | |
The campaigners called the British mining magnate a backward-looking symbol of racist colonialism. | The campaigners called the British mining magnate a backward-looking symbol of racist colonialism. |
Following a Twitter outcry in Spring 2015, they succeeded in their bid to have the Cape Town statue removed. | Following a Twitter outcry in Spring 2015, they succeeded in their bid to have the Cape Town statue removed. |
Students at Oxford University then mounted an unsuccessful campaign to remove a Rhodes statue at Oriel College, where the businessman was educated. | Students at Oxford University then mounted an unsuccessful campaign to remove a Rhodes statue at Oriel College, where the businessman was educated. |
Oriel resisted the pressure after a consultation showed "overwhelming" support for keeping it. | Oriel resisted the pressure after a consultation showed "overwhelming" support for keeping it. |
Mr Nott, who compared the Cape Town statue to "a swastika in Jerusalem", will now receive tens of thousands from Rhodes' legacy. | Mr Nott, who compared the Cape Town statue to "a swastika in Jerusalem", will now receive tens of thousands from Rhodes' legacy. |
Twitter disgust | Twitter disgust |
The activist, who is the son of a wealthy South African lawyer, has been widely condemned on social media and accused of selling out. | The activist, who is the son of a wealthy South African lawyer, has been widely condemned on social media and accused of selling out. |
While some branded him an "arrogant hypocrite", others questioned whether poorer South Africans might not be more deserving of a £40,000 scholarship. | While some branded him an "arrogant hypocrite", others questioned whether poorer South Africans might not be more deserving of a £40,000 scholarship. |
But Mr Nott has said he will "never toast Cecil John Rhodes" and will use the opportunity to fight against the ideals that Rhodes represented. | But Mr Nott has said he will "never toast Cecil John Rhodes" and will use the opportunity to fight against the ideals that Rhodes represented. |
He does not plan to participate in the anti-Rhodes movement while at Oxford. | He does not plan to participate in the anti-Rhodes movement while at Oxford. |
The Rhodes Trust has defended its choice of candidate, praising Mr Nott's commitment to social justice. | The Rhodes Trust has defended its choice of candidate, praising Mr Nott's commitment to social justice. |
A spokesman said: "We pick young people of enormous ability without regard to any particular political affiliation … Mr Nott has been involved in a wide range of social change initiatives. He made this clear." | A spokesman said: "We pick young people of enormous ability without regard to any particular political affiliation … Mr Nott has been involved in a wide range of social change initiatives. He made this clear." |
Controversial figure | Controversial figure |
Rhodes was a revered figure in the days of the British Empire, but some now view him as an imperialist who profited from South Africa's resources at the expense of the local people. | Rhodes was a revered figure in the days of the British Empire, but some now view him as an imperialist who profited from South Africa's resources at the expense of the local people. |
He believed that the English were naturally superior, and was once quoted as saying: "I contend that we are the first race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race." | He believed that the English were naturally superior, and was once quoted as saying: "I contend that we are the first race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race." |
His sizeable trust was established at Oxford over a century ago to fund postgraduate awards for non-British students. | His sizeable trust was established at Oxford over a century ago to fund postgraduate awards for non-British students. |
Famous predecessors | Famous predecessors |
Previous Rhodes scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the astronomer Edwin Hubble, and country singer Kris Kristofferson. | Previous Rhodes scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the astronomer Edwin Hubble, and country singer Kris Kristofferson. |
Almost 8,000 Rhodes scholars have graduated from Oxford since the scheme was established in 1902. | Almost 8,000 Rhodes scholars have graduated from Oxford since the scheme was established in 1902. |
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