TMP Online

Britain must come to terms with its slave past argues Patrick Vernon and this includes an apology.

Over the last several weeks I have been involved in chairing and speaking at events and numerous media interviews on the bicentenary of the commemoration of the 1807 Slave Trade Act. In addition, I attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of the President of Ghana as part of the country’s 50th anniversary of political independence from the UK. As a Councillor in Hackney I have also been involved in promoting the local exhibition at the Hackney Museum on the slave trade and national curriculum resources developed for local schools in the borough. This is a model of good practice giving a different and arguably correct perspective to young people on the slave trade and how it relates to issues of citizenship and community cohesion. Finally, I just recovered from a 13 week campaign in Bristol West as part of the selection process to be a prospective Labour Parliamentary candidate.

The bicentenary commemoration’s major focus is on the role of abolitionists particularly William Wilberforce, and the passing of the Slave Trade Act in 1807.This is the first time at a national level that people from all quarters of society have discussed the issue of the slave trade. Not since the landmark US drama series Roots, back in 1977, based on the Alex Haley book, have we have been given official sanction to discuss the slave trade and Britain’s involvement.

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