Shakespeare's birthplace to be 'de-colonised' over fears his success 'benefits the ideology of white European supremacy' | 16 March 2025 | William Shakespeare's birthplace will be de-colonised over fears that portraying his success as the "greatest" playwright "benefits the ideology of white European supremacy." Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust owns buildings in the playwright's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. It wants to create a "create a more inclusive museum experience," and announced it will move away from Western perspectives after concerns were raised that Shakespeare's ideas were used to advance "white supremacy" ideas. This is because European culture is portrayed as the standard for high art and the playwright as a symbol of British "superiority," according to The Telegraph. The project said this narrative has caused harm, and advised that the trust stop saying Shakespeare was the "greatest" but part of a community of "equal and different" writers globally. Also in 2021, it was reported that a growing number of "woke" academics are refusing to teach Shakespeare in U.S. schools, arguing that the Bard promotes racism, white supremacy and intolerance, and instead are pushing for the teaching of "modern" alternatives.