Remembering the slave trade, its abolition and its legacy

Published	21 August 2008

Throughout the month, right across the country, community groups, museums, galleries, faith groups, and local authorities, are organising events to remember the slave trade, its abolition and its legacy.

Following last year's bicentennial commemorations, the Government confirmed that the 23 of August - UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - would be adopted as the focal date for commemorations in the years to come.

Among the events happening on August 23 are: the opening of a new permanent display on the life of Olaudah Equiano - one of the most prominent people of African heritage involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade - at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery; Remembering Enslavement to Windrush, A memorial with musicians, dancers and poets to mark both the UNESCO international Day of Remembrance and the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush at the Museum in Docklands, London; and the Launch of the new Transatlantic Slave Trade Touring Exhibition in Lincoln which will tour local community venues and schools from this September. This project is supported by the DCMS funded Renaissance East Midlands.

Speaking ahead of his visit to a commemorative event at St Stephen's Church Bristol, Communities Minister Parmjit Dhanda said:

"One of the strong themes to come out from last year was the need for all our communities to remember the slave trade and its abolition in future years and so I'm delighted that so many community and faith groups, the cultural sector and local authorities continue to remember this important part of our history in such a variety of ways.

"The key message of the Bicentenary year was 'reflecting on the past looking to the future'. It was an important opportunity to remember the struggles of the past; to remember those who suffered and to pay tribute to those who resisted and campaigned for abolition. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the enormous contribution Black African and Black Caribbean communities make in Britain.

"The 200th anniversary also highlighted the importance of tackling the legacy issues we face today and to reaffirm our commitment to addressing equality, community cohesion and poverty both internationally and in the UK and the contemporary forms of slavery that persist today. Education is the unifying theme across all of these issues. And from this September the history and impact of the slave trade will become a compulsory element in the Key Stage 3 curriculum in our schools."

In the UK, the Government are working to achieve equality for all, for ethnic minority people, women, people with disabilities and gay men and lesbians. A new Equalities Bill will seek to accelerate the progress the Government have already made. We are also working with the Black community to run a black role-model recruitment campaign - currently open for applications - as one of the recommendations put to Ministers to improve the life chances and aspirations of young Black boys and men.

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said:

"The Bicentenary year provided an opportunity for us to come together and reflect both on our history and our shared future. Last year thousands of people visited the many thought-provoking and moving exhibitions and events across the country. Our Museums, libraries and galleries play such a crucial part in local communities and I'm pleased they continue to have an important role marking this important period in our shared history.

"This year, people across the country are again taking part in activities and events in our arts, cultural and heritage venues to recognise the achievements of the abolition movement and ensure that the history and impact of the slave trade is not forgotten."

Notes to editors

1. A list of all the activities and events taking place in August is available at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/slavery/DG_065970 (external link).

2. The Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery Fund are both funding community-based projects, throughout August and beyond aimed at promoting greater understanding of the slave trade and its legacies. Community groups are able to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council England for support for heritage projects linked to commemoration. To date The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded over £15million to more than 180 projects related to the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. The HLF website includes case studies and provides information on how HLF funding can help support projects that will add to our individual and collective understanding of the transatlantic slave trade and engage new and diverse audiences with an important part of our national heritage: www.hlf.org.uk/rememberingslavery (external link).

3. On Thursday 4 September Archbishop Desmond Tu Tu will officially unveil a new sculpture by artist Michael Visocchi and poet Lemn Sissay which commemorates the 2007 bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. The site in the City of London is close to St. Mary Woolnoth church, where the Rev. John Newton held his powerful anti-slavery sermons. The City of London Corporation's Street Scene team has worked closely with Black British Heritage and specialist curators Future City to bring the project together.

4. The commemorative magazine published last year to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Outlining the slave trade, those who fought for its abolition and the subsequent emancipation process as well as work taking place to tackle discrimination in Britain and forms of slavery still present in the world today is still available online at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/slavery/DG_067157 (external link).

5. UNESCO's General Conference in 1997 decided that 23 August should be designated 'International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition'. The night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Santo Domingo (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. UNESCO chose this date as a reminder that enslaved Africans were the main agents of their own liberation. On 13 December the Government confirmed that the 23 August will also be adopted as the focal date for national commemorations in the years to come.

6. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded over £13 million to more than 145 bicentenary projects throughout last year. Much of this money has gone to small, community groups, who can focus specifically on local stories. Museums, libraries and galleries form a crucial part of local communities. The Heritage Lottery Fund has also funded exhibitions/galleries/museums which continue in 2008, including the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, the 'London, Sugar and Slavery' gallery at the Museum in Docklands, London; the 'Breaking the Chains' Exhibition at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol and the refurbished Wilberforce House Museum in Hull.

7. From this September the history and impact of the slave trade will become a compulsory element in the Key Stage 3 curriculum. As part of their study of British history children will learn about the development of trade, colonisation, industrialisation and technology, the British Empire and its impact on different peoples in Britain and overseas, pre-colonial civilisations, the nature and effects of the slave trade, and resistance and decolonisation. The study of the slave trade should include resistance, the abolition of slavery and the work of people such as Olaudah Equiano and William Wilberforce.

8. The Government have begun a national recruitment campaign to find 20 inspirational Black men for the first national role model programme for young Black men in England.

9. REACH are an independent group drawn from the Black community. In August 2007 they published a report highlighting the barriers that are preventing some Black boys from fulfilling their full potential. The first national role model programme is part of the Government's response to five recommendations made in the REACH report.

10. The Government want to highlight the benefits that role models can bring to young people's lives at the event, reinforce the commitment to the project across Government and showcase how partnership working with members of the Black community has led to the development of the programme. More information on how to apply can be found at: www.direct.gov.uk/reach (external link).