Of course, slavery has been around for millennia, we can read about it in many accounts from the classical world, ancient literature, The Bible and many other places. But the notion that people with darker skins are inherently inferior to those with lighter skins is very modern. The 18th century Atlantic Trade gave reason for it (financial profits turned into industrial investments) and the 19th century provided a justification (Social Darwinism). But prior to the Trade's transatlantic beginnings in the 1600s, racial differences didn't matter very much to the Romans, Greeks or other empires in the Ancient World. Slaves were either prisoners of war or conquered peoples, and could be of any ethnicity. Pope Gregory the Great saw some captured blonde-haired 'English' children in a Roman slave market and when enquiring, was told they were 'Angles'. 'No...' he replied. 'Angels.'
So why remember all this? Three reasons.
Firstly, 200 years after the first great campaign against slavery, it's worth remembering how the world's first successful non-violent human rights campaign got off the ground- without even an internet for sharing Likes. Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano, Granville Sharpe, Hannah More (and yes, eventually, William Wilberforce too) were pioneers in researching, cataloguing, networking and spreading the word that Something Needed to be Done about African Slavery even if it went against Britain's interests. That's a big Ask- but they succeeded despite serious, sometimes violent opposition. And for the Enslaved, of course, the struggle in the West Indies could have brutal, even fatal consequences. Slave rebellions were common, and frequently put down with much loss of life. Their story should not be forgotten.
Secondly, we still live with the consequences of the Trade. Why did the United Kingdom end up with so many statues celebrating the life and works of people who either made money from running plantations in the West Indies, or the ships that moved goods and people from place to place? It's because the business was so profitable, they had to find ways of either making the most efficient use of their wealth back here in new investments (dock facilities, warehouses, new industries and technology such as steam railways) or giving it to Good Causes. Edward Colston poured his money into schools, almshouses and other charitable work around Bristol. By creating jobs and raising the social capital in Great Britain, these businessmen made a positive difference in their communities, courtesy of the unpaid labour of thousands of enslaved Africans in the West Indies. Curiously, Colston didn't ask for a statue to be raised in his honour- but he had many admirers who did. Nestling in the Bristol dock area, the church of St Mary Redcliffe now has a stained glass window dedicated to Colston that likens his charity to the Good Samaritan of Jesus' great parable.... which is pushing it a bit. to my mind, statues like his belong in a museum where they can be properly explained- not left in public places as a mark of celebration. As for St Mary Redcliffe, I hope their window is kept safe and used to explain this troubling legacy to generations of schoolchildren.
Thirdly... because Black Lives Matter. The memorial gravestone at the top reminds us how we can all try to distance ourselves from the consequences of our actions... and Commander Hughes' family might have wanted to remember him with affection. But his African victims would have thought rather differently.
To find out more, read my historical novel 'An Enthusiastic Rage: Beginnings.' (£2.75 Amazon ebook)
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Any requests of subjects for future posts? No idea too stupid for consideration. And yes, I know I am a bad writer, so don't bother saying that unless you can write something better. But maybe there's a topic buzzing around in your head that you'd like to see covered... because I've got a keyboard here, it's loaded with letters, and I ain't afraid to use it.