The complexity of mourning Queen Elizabeth II and questioning her legacy

• Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday, is being mourned by the world.
• But she was not loved by all. Her ties to colonialism make it difficult for some to grieve the monarch.
• When mourning a controversial figure, it's important to recognize their accomplishments- and wrongdoings.

A wave of sadness swept the globe when Queen Elizabeth II, 96, died Thursday afternoon, marking the end of an era. Throughout the past week, Britain's longest-reigning monarch has been memorialized for her grace, power and longevity by politicians, celebrities and even everyday Americans.

But the queen was not universally loved. Her legacy as a participant in Britain's history of colonialism in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia often goes untold, and at times, is downplayed or romanticized (even having been controversially framed as a "long-standing relationship with Africa" in a BBC tweet). Critics have highlighted her role in this historic empire that perpetuated colonization, racism and the suppression of independence movements and calls for reparations.