Medal of Honour for George, an Enslaved Man 1837

This medal, made of silver in 1837 by an anonymous artist, speaks volumes about the complex and often contradictory nature of colonial history. It commemorates an enslaved man named George in the colony of Suriname. The medal shows the coat of arms of the Dutch colony, flanked by two figures who might represent indigenous people. What does it mean to reward an enslaved person within a system predicated on their dehumanization? The medal highlights the uneasy negotiation between power, resistance, and recognition. It raises questions about the narratives we construct around historical figures like George and the selective ways we acknowledge their contributions and lived experiences. This medal invites us to reflect on the ways in which societies grapple with injustice, and the complicated symbols they create in the process.