Slavery and Colonialism Are Everyone’s History

[GodessOfThunder]

I was on a thread recently where posters were complaining of slavery and colonialism being “shoehorned” into exhibitions, and were strongly “pushing back” against it being given prominence as a topic in museums and at historic sites. Indeed, transatlantic slavery and colonialism often seem to be regarded as niche historical subjects of interest more to people of colour, and involving only a small number of rich white slave owners and colonial officials.

This perception however, does not reflect reality. Transatlantic slavery effected not only millions of Africans, but pretty much everyone in Britain too. Similarly, colonialism effected not only millions of subjects in the British Empire, but everyone “at home” also. The economy these projects fuelled changed what ordinary people ate and drank and what they wore. They changed how British people thought about non-European people in ways that continue to shape their mindset and create injustice today. Slavery and colonialism helped fund the Industrial Revolution and the jobs people in Britain performed, and much more too.

I’m not suggesting anyone today should feel guilty for these activities. But, these subjects are still all too often not regarded as part of all of our histories. This means attempts to give them proper prominence are met with resistance. If we are to understand British history at a public level properly there is still a great deal of work to do.

What criteria did you use to bring these events together?

What does “more prominent” mean?

@Newusername1273 the lack of context was everything alright. Not that there's an excuse for violence. Bit i do find the lack of awareness in (parts of) GB re NI matters stunning.

I think it's improved since The Good Friday agreement and a lot of the reporting restrictions were dropped. There is a good documentary (actually there are a few) on BBC iPlayer about Northern Ireland if you're of a mind to watch them. First hand accounts from both sides of the divide and their experiences. One episode has stuck with me as it was about the hunger strikes. None of this was ever spoken about when it was actively happening (or maybe it was a I was too young to understand)

Thanks for the thoughts. Yes, I agree there are various chapters to the story all of which need to be told.

My original post mentioned empire as well as slavery and I think the history empire is even more poorly understood in Britain. There’s a perception it only effected people who were oppressed as colonial subjects, and therefore it isn’t relevant to the history of Britain domestically. But it actually had a great impact in terms of consumption, industrial production, British self identity and so on.

To understand Empires you have to understand the causes of Empires...

Afaik i can't get BBC player. Am ROI. I see most things on Reeling in the Years (RTE).

The Atlantic slave trade is just not in the shortlist of formative parts of British history, when you compare to events listed by PP like @Newusername1273

Are you familiar with Catherine Hall’s work?

You seem displeased that some people don't categorically hate the empire.

What our tiny nation managed to achieve is astounding. Considering the technology of the time and logistics (not to mention the will to explore etc), that alone is worth being proud of.

Would you say that about empire too?

Oh that's a shame. If you can find it by other sources the documentary I'm thinking of is called "Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland" it's several episodes long and is a heavy heavy watch but it's stories that need to be heard.

At the great expense of others.

And this is where the nuance comes in... not every bit of colonisation was done without the consent of the people/governments. A significant number were happy to cooperate with the British.

No, because the British empire is a gigantic factor in our history. And no it wasn't all bad. We spread democracy. It was brilliant for Britain's d

BBC seems to be very well locked down! I will keep an eye out though, thank you!

^for Britain

Just the first few that came I to my head, and a clearly had a larger effect on British life than did a few rich people having slaves.

More prominent means how much attention should be given to them in history lessons. I’m not going to get on board with the idea of some foreign folks being shipped to America from Africa and making a few people rich is a more important piece of British history than being invaded and conquered by the Normans.

I find the idea of “pride” (and “shame” for that matter too) in relation to past events a fairly odd concept. Why get emotionally entangled with events you can claim no credit or accept no blame for?

But, if one is going to feel “proud” of something some other people in the past did, I find it odd to choose a phenomenon like the British Empire. Alongside the much mentioned railways, we have the Bengal famine, Morant Bay, Māori Wars, Amritsar, the Irish famine and countless day to day acts of violence and oppression against millions of people on a day to day basis.

Well i suppose i am (naturally) biased. But like, back to an earlier point, the trouble it caused here.... so it's unsurpring your average Irish person would not look back fondly iyswim.

No one said you should.

Your argument is a false dilemma, a straw man.

Again, the empire?

I agree with you OP. It had a widescale societal impact and its quite hard to understand britains history and its place in the modern world without understanding the transatlantic slave trade and the colonies. Therefore its not really shoehorning it in to anything that was built or happened during that era. Its pretty integral.

I really dont get the angst about it.

I think it is worth linking together as today people shop at temu/shein that we KNOW are made by actual living slaves and a lot of people tbh dont give a shit as long as long as the items are cheap. So some joined up thinking could change lives now.

Agree with this. It’s actually really helpful to be able to extrapolate from the past slave trade and other aspects of global trade to the horrors of the present.

And every culture will have its biases and opinions on an invading nation, it's only natural. But every nation has done to and been done to at some point in history.

Take America and their fight for independence, and their willful ignorance of the British plea to stop invading native lands... this is from the declaration of independence

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

They actively wrote in their declaration an up yours to the British and Native Americans over their expansion into their lands. Something the British tried to stop.

I think many do. The industrial revolution was possible because of colonisation and slavery.
People flogged to the cities in order to get work. The type of work that these former tennant farmers and labourers got was mainly based in factories with long working hours, poor conditions and very little pay. Some ended up as labourers in huge dockyards and lived literally from hand to mouth.

Then there are the big museums and stately homes. Established by industrialists and aristocrats. They got super rich from the colonisation, slave trade and cheap labour.
Some tried to justify their wealth by becoming philanthropists.

... and now to 2023: yes the remnants of the past are still around us. Most people have a level of awareness of the history of the place they live in or visit frequently.

But, most give a s* about history. Its in the past, its done and can't be changed.

It's boring and people can't relate to the people, places and actions of past generations. Just accept it, you can't change it.