Resistances. On dealing with Racism in Bern

In 2019, a mural in a Bern primary school sparked a controversial debate on racism and the city’s colonial legacy, which intensified in the summer of 2020 as Black Lives Matter protests swept the globe. Local authorities, the media, education and cultural institutions, as well as individuals, were at odds as to whose interpretation mattered and what should be done about the mural’s racist imagery. Following an open competition, the city of Bern announced that they would adopt the proposal made by the “Das Wandbild muss weg!” association, who called for the mural to be removed from the school and put in a museum. This would enable a broader audience to engage with the conversation on racism in Bern – both past and present. Four years later, the mural has become part of Bernisches Historisches Museum’s collection.