Would you discuss the fact your ancestors were slave owners?

[darleane]

If you knew that your ancestors were slave owners, would you tell anyone?

I think it would be important to discuss so that understanding of just how widespread British/[insert other nationality] involvement was, and how normal people had ancestors who were involved, not just the rich and famous (like David Cameron).

Dp think it's something that should not be spoken about and thinks friends will view you differently if you mentioned it

The history of slavery goes further back and is more widespread than people believe.

As some examples:

• White Christians in Europe were targeted by Varangarians in 11th century and Ottomans in 15th and 16th century.

• In India, the Raj had significant number of slaves before the British arrived.

• The Middle East extracted similar numbers of slaves from Africa as North America.

• China extracted Japanese slaves in the 9th century

• Portuguese were significant slave owners from around the world, including Japanese and Chinese slaves being sold to their colonies.

Therefore, if you are British but have Scandinavian genes, you were likely a descendant of a Viking slave.

If you are Italian or Greek, there is a good chance your ancestors were Arab slaves.

Or modern slavery, where this practise continues but predominantly in Africa and the Asian sub continent.

You could argue a significant number of us are descendants of slaves, but depends how far back you want to go.

@MabelMaybe - I’m an Aussie, so Brexit hasn’t really affected me. A dual citizenship is still appealing though. Would be handy for my kids too. Looking back certainly explains why my Dad and brother have their dark looks (to the point where they are racially profiled at airports…. They look decidedly middle-eastern.) I’ve managed to land a rogue Baltic gene and am the only blonde in my large extended family. (I have a cousin who looks like my photographic negative, which is very weird.

Depends on if you're still benefitting - ie land and titles

Many of mine were factory hands in the Lancashire cotton mills, that industry would not have existed without slave grown cotton

We know. We do know, and we do get where you are coming from.

But no-one alive today is culpable for what their long-ago ancestors did, whatever it may have been. One of my ancestors was a murderer.

It's not something I would discuss, but then I'm a very private person and discuss very little of my personal life to anyone. I don't view it as important to talk about or to learn about my ancestral history. I know very little about my ancestors and I'm not interested - it has no bearing on me or my actions now (but we are unlikely to have any slavery in our family history, we aren't from the UK or any country with slavery links).

This ☝️

Why on earth would your friends see you differently? You have had no influence over what long dead ancestors did.

You really know very little about history if you claim that these things only happen to black slaves with white owners

These things happened to black slaves with white owners, white slaves with white owners, black slaves with black owners, the white poor and the black poor.

Yes people were thrown into jail for trying to practice their religion, were sexually and physically exploited, were starved and beaten, children sold on or used for business, wives sold on, quite legally. As recently as a couple of hundred years ago.

Slave owners have come in all ethnicities, religions, ages and societies. The transatlantic slave trade was one of many over thousands of years.

It continues now and will continue forever unfortunately.

I hate to tell you this but women are treated a sex slaves and trafficked in to awful situations today.