£100 million to 'address past wrongs of slavery'

Plexie · 12/01/2023 08:12

Link? Or do you expect us all to Google it?

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:17

OP posts:

Msstakes · 12/01/2023 08:18

It's about money because it is directly linked to an investment fund that made money through slavery.
Absolutely the right thing to do.

Msstakes · 12/01/2023 08:21

If I found out my son's friend had made money through bullying and given some of it to my son as he had helped him with some homework I would make my son give the money back.

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 12/01/2023 08:21

Looks like a great thing to do to me

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:22

But do you think that money can address historical wrongs from 2 centuries ago?

OP posts:

WuTangGran · 12/01/2023 08:27

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:22

But do you think that money can address historical wrongs from 2 centuries ago?

What is your suggestion to address this historical wrong?

UsuallySuze · 12/01/2023 08:27

This money addresses a specific wrong- the church’s investment in a company that transported enslaved people. It doesn’t put it right nor does it address all the wrongs of slavery (obviously) but it is the right thing to do. I’m really pleased to see my church taking the lead on this.

WuTangGran · 12/01/2023 08:32

The Anglican Church profited hugely from slavery and they knew it:

“The Church of England knew it was investing in the transatlantic slave trade during the 18th century, the head of its investment arm said on Wednesday, after it committed 100 million pounds ($121 million) to address the "shameful" wrongs of links to slavery.”

Maybe you think standing at your front door and clapping for this is recompense, like we repay medical staff for saving our lives instead of paying them a living wage?

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/01/2023 08:34

Slavery was, as is (though the church isn't as interested in that) abhorrent.

I don't understand what you mean by this.

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:35

I don't think it's possible to address historical wrongs.
How do you identify those who were affected? It's not as easy as saying it's every black person.
Has anyone identified the concrete outcomes they want to emerge? I doubt it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:37

The Church is giving a lot of attention to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. But nothing on present day slavery. That's what I mean.

OP posts:

GrimDamnFanjo · 12/01/2023 08:40

I'd like to know more about where the money is going but otherwise it's the right thing to do.

Rosamunde · 12/01/2023 08:44

I think if they used the money to help victims of modern slavery that would be appropriate. It wouldn’t fix the wrongs of the past (which I agree is not possible after so much time), but there would be justice in it.

lifeinthehills · 12/01/2023 08:44

The wrongs of the past can't be righted, however they can be acknowledged and steps taken to amend ongoing damage. Many indigenous people all over the world face worse health, lower educational attainment, more poverty, as examples, because of the action and effect of being colonised or enslaved. Making an effort to acknowledge this and work towards bridging that gap is worth doing.

Rosamunde · 12/01/2023 08:47

This is true @lifeinthehills but after all this time how do you identify the descendants of those originally affected? How practically could the wrong be addressed? If they don’t have a credible plan then it’s just virtue-signalling.

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/01/2023 08:48

Sausagenbacon · 12/01/2023 08:37

The Church is giving a lot of attention to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. But nothing on present day slavery. That's what I mean.

I'll admit this isn't something I've looked into before but just did a quick search and found The Clewer Initiative. It was set up by the CofE to identify victims of modern slavery and offer them support.

Headabovetheparakeet · 12/01/2023 08:49

it’s just virtue-signalling.

They're a church - virtue signalling is kind of their thing!

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 12/01/2023 08:54

lifeinthehills · 12/01/2023 08:44

The wrongs of the past can't be righted, however they can be acknowledged and steps taken to amend ongoing damage. Many indigenous people all over the world face worse health, lower educational attainment, more poverty, as examples, because of the action and effect of being colonised or enslaved. Making an effort to acknowledge this and work towards bridging that gap is worth doing.

Exactly this.

TaRaDeBumDeAy · 12/01/2023 08:54

My great grandparents on my maternal grandfather's side were indentured slaves.

They went from India to Jamaica and worked on the Tate & Lyle plantation and Appleton rum estate.

I'm unsure whether they ever got out and retired but I've been to their village and met my great grandmother once when I was really little.

These companies that got rich on slavery probably should pass some of that on but how far down the line do they go? Do they give to every descendant? Do they give back land?

The big banking companies will never acknowledge how they got rich.

lifeinthehills · 12/01/2023 08:56

Rosamunde · 12/01/2023 08:47

This is true @lifeinthehills but after all this time how do you identify the descendants of those originally affected? How practically could the wrong be addressed? If they don’t have a credible plan then it’s just virtue-signalling.

I'm not in the UK and, in some places, it's easy to know who belongs to the wronged groups and need the gap bridged. There are things like extra help for tertiary education funding to address the gap, for example. Initiatives to help improve the health of these groups. There's a lot of catch up to do to bring more equality. It will take time but it's a start. The best way is to consult the people who are part of these affected groups what they need and involve them in all decision making at every stage. Otherwise it's just paternalism. I do get that it's not always easy to identify who is affected, and no doubt some will be missed because of this. There isn't a perfect solution and there's certainly no fix.

Ofcourseshecan · 12/01/2023 08:56

Rosamunde · 12/01/2023 08:44

I think if they used the money to help victims of modern slavery that would be appropriate. It wouldn’t fix the wrongs of the past (which I agree is not possible after so much time), but there would be justice in it.

I agree. Slavery is still widespread across the world and it baffles me why this is largely ignored.

Hawkins001 · 12/01/2023 09:00

If all business conducted in the last was legal at the time, then e.g. Outlawed, if in the present companies are making money with x activities, but in the future those activities were considered illegal, would the same restitution need to be achieved ?

Hawkins001 · 12/01/2023 09:01

*past

lifeinthehills · 12/01/2023 09:02

Hawkins001 · 12/01/2023 09:00

If all business conducted in the last was legal at the time, then e.g. Outlawed, if in the present companies are making money with x activities, but in the future those activities were considered illegal, would the same restitution need to be achieved ?

Maybe if those activities were found to have harmed a group of people, yes.