DISCUSSION TOPIC: SLAVERY

SOME QUESTIONS

If you were to be appointed as the first director of a new United Nations Museum of the History of the Slavery, what questions and issues would be foremost in your mind as you struggled to provide the museum with a coherent mission and with meaningful exhibits? What would make those particular questions so problematic?
What was most interesting about the 200-year anniversary in 2007 of the British abolition of the slave trade as a commemorative event? What did this reveal about the different interpretations that people have about the past and about the state of race relations in the UK today?
Should Tony Blair and/or the Queen have apologized for slavery? Why or why not? When are historical apologies appropriate? Who, if anyone, should offer them?
Make the case for slave reparations. Why might they be justified? What form might such reparations take?
To what extent is it possible to assess the legacies of slavery?
What do you find most surprising about the history of the African slave trade?
What groups of people were involved and what were their roles in the slave trade?
How would you compare and contrast slavery as an institution at the time of the slave trade with earlier forms of slavery? With more modern forms of slavery? What significance would you attach to these comparisons?
How would you account for abolitionism? How and why was the institution of slavery overturned?

STARTING PLACES

Will Ross, "Slavery's Long Effects On Africa," BBC News, March 29, 2007.
Dominic Casciani, "The Legacy Of Slavery," BBC News, March 20, 2007.

"Quick Guide: The Slave Trade," BBC News, March 15, 2007.
Ira Berlin, "Slaves In The Family: Review of 'Inhuman Bondage,' By David Brion Davis," New York Times, May 14, 2006.
Listen to at least one of the following episodes from the March 2007 BBC series on the Slave Trade and its Abolition:

"Free At Last, Part One: How The Slave Trade Worked," BBC Documentary Archive, March 6, 2007.

"Free At Last, Part Two: The Road To Emancipation," BBC Documentary Archive, March 19, 2007.

"Free At Last, Part Three: Cultural DNA," BBC Documentary Archive, March 26, 2007.

AUDIO AND VISUAL SOURCES

*** Debate -- Slavery In Our Time, Guardian, July 4, 2007: An excellent 2-hour panel discussion in Liverpool hosted by the Guardian's Gary Younge that attempts to place the 200th anniversary of the British abolition of the slave trade in context.

REPARATIONS AND APOLOGIES

Lola Adesioye, "Saying Sorry For Slavery Isn't Enough," Guardian, July 31, 2008.
Damien Cave, "Florida Legislature Apologizes For State's History Of Slavery," New York Times, March 27, 2008.
"Should Reparations For Slavery Be Paid," BBC Have Your Say, March 19, 2007: A moderated on-line discussion forum involving BBC readers.
Mackubin Thomas Owens, "A Mistaken Apology For Slavery: New Jersey's 'Profound Regret' Trivializes An Important Issue," Christian Science Monitor, January 11, 2008.
Hugh Muir, "Livingstone Weeps As He Apologises For Slavery," Guardian, August 24, 2007.
"Jackson Calls For Slavery Apology," BBC News, August 22, 2007.
"Annan Calls For Investment To Heal Wounds Of Slavery," Guardian, May 8, 2007.
Priyamvada Gopal, "It Is Contradictory To Condemn Slavery And Yet Celebrate The Empire," Guardian, April 2, 2007.
Robert Pigott, "Church 'Needs To Make Amends,'" BBC News, March 26, 2007.
"UK Slave Trade Apology 'Needed,'" BBC News, March 25, 2007.
"Archbishops Lead Slave Trade Walk," BBC News, March 24, 2007.
"Slavery Panel: Q & A," BBC News, March 21, 2007.
"London Mayor 'Sorry' For Slavery," BBC News, March 21, 2007.
"Virginia 'Sorry' For Slavery Role," BBC News, February 25, 2007.
"City Already 'Sorry For Slavery,'" BBC News, May 14, 2006.
"Rastas Call For Slavery Reparations," Guardian, September 8, 2004.
Alex Kleiderman, "The Vexed Question Of Paying For Slavery," BBC News, August 23, 2004.
"Slave Descendants To Sue Lloyd's," BBC News, March 29, 2004.
Stacy A. Teicher, "Should Corporations Be Held Accountable For Slavery?," Christian Science Monitor, January 30, 2004.
"Europe Split Over Slavery Row," BBC News, September 3, 2001.
Chris McGreal, "Africans Angry At Refusal To Debate Slavery Reparations," Guardian, September 1, 2001.
Barnaby Mason, "Racism Conference Undermined By Division," BBC News, August 29, 2001.
Ed Vulliamy, "Black Leaders Divided Over Reparations For Slavery," Guardian, August 26, 2001.
Owen Bowcott, "Africans Call For Slavery Reparations," Guardian, June 29, 2001.
"Slavery Row Stalls Racism Conference," BBC News, May 22, 2001.
"Trillions Demanded In Slavery Reparations," BBC News, August 20, 1999.

SLAVERY IN THE NEWS

Christopher Benfey, "Charles Darwin, Abolitionist," New York Times, January 29, 2009.
Francis X. Clines, "The Closing Of A Circle," New York Times, January 19, 2009.
"Johnson Backs Slavery Memorial," BBC News, August 18, 2008.
Felicia R. Lee, "Bench Of Memory At Slavery's Gateway," New York Times, July 28, 2008.
Julia M. Klein, "A Slavery Museum Negotiates The Treacherous Route To Funding," New York Times, March 12, 2008.
Benjamin Genocchio, "Images Of An Island Emerging From Chains," New York Times, December 2, 2007.
Simon Romero, "A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes," New York Times, October 18, 2007.
Elias E. Lopez, "Nameless Are Memorialized At Old African Burial Site," New York Times, October 2, 2007.
Jane Perlez, "A New Museum Is Frank In Its Exploration Of The Slave-Trading Past," New York Times, August 22, 2007.
Helen Carter, "Museum Focuses On Slavery," Guardian, August 21, 2007.
Caroline Elkins, "The Gates Of Hell," New York Times, May 20, 2007.
"Online Slavery Archive Launched," BBC News, April 27, 2007.
Heather Stewart, "Slavery's Legacy Shows In The Hills," Observer, April 22, 2007.
"Your Say In The Caribbean, Africa And The UK," BBC Caribbean, April 5, 2007.
Will Ross, "Slavery's Long Effects On Africa," BBC News, March 29, 2007.
Clive Myrie, "Jamaican Anger Over Slave Trade," BBC News, March 26, 2007.
Orla Guerin, "Americans Follow Slave Trail," BBC News, March 26, 2007.
"Ms Dynamite And The Maroons," BBC News, March 23, 2007.
Kwame Anthony Appiah, "A Slow Emancipation," New York Times, March 18, 2007.
Alex Butterworth, "Of Human Bondage," Observer, September 25, 2005.
James Walvin, "Human Traffic," Guardian, September 3, 2005.
"UN Opens Slavery Remembrance Year," BBC News, January 10, 2004.
"Goree: The Slave Island," BBC News, July 8, 2003.
Carole Boston Weatherford, "Speaking Of Slavery: The Last Taboo," Christian Science Monitor, May 23, 1996.

200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BRITISH ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE

"Quick Guide: The Slave Trade," BBC News, March 15, 2007.
Bicentenary Of The Abolition Of The Slave Trade: Resources from Directgov, a UK government site.
"In Pictures: Slavery Remembered," BBC News, March 27, 2007.
"No Charges For Slavery Protester," BBC News, May 30, 2007.
Amand Kirton, "Discontent Voiced Over Slavery Events," BBC News, April 3, 2007.
Alexis Akwagyiram, "Poignant Site to Remember Slave Trade," BBC News, March 26, 2007.
"Slave Trade Shameful, Blair Says," BBC News, March 25, 2007.
Brian Wheeler, "The Birth Of Modern Campaigning," BBC News, March 20, 2007.
Alan Riding, "Britain Confronts Legacy Of Slave Trade," New York Times, March 20, 2007.
"World Commemorates End Of Slavery," BBC News, August 23, 2004.
Parliament And The British Slave Trade, 1600-1807:
Abolition Of The Slave Trade: An interactive map from the BBC History site.
John Oldfield, "British Anti-Slavery": An article from the BBC History site.
Adam Hochschild, "The Unsung Heroes Of Abolition": An interactive article from the BBC History site.
Stephen Farrell, "Driving Change Through Parliament": An article from the BBC History site.
Huw Lewis-Jones, "The Royal Navy And The Battle To End Slavery": An article from the BBC History site.
Adam Hochschild, "William Wilberforce: The Real Abolitionist?": An article from the BBC History site.
William Wilberforce (1759-1833): A very concise biography from BBC History.
Trevor Timpson, "Abolition's 'Unexpected Hero,'" BBC News, March 23, 2007.
Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846): A very concise biography from BBC History.
Granville Sharp (1735-1813): A very concise biography from BBC History.
Abolitionism -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Mike Kaye, "Tools Of The Abolitionists": An interactive article from the BBC History site.
Elizabeth Crawford, "Women From Abolition To The Vote": An article from the BBC History site.
Slave Trade And Abolition Of Slavery: A collection of resources from the UK site Black History 4 Schools.
The End Of The Slave Trade -- Abolished 1807, CBBC Newsround, 2008: An overview for the Children's BBC.
Rees Davies, "British Slaves On The Barbary Coast": An article from the BBC History site.

ARTICLES

Hakim Adi, "Africa And The Transatlantic Slave Trade": An article from the BBC History site.
Karl Watson, "Slavery And Economy In Barbados": An article from the BBC History site.
Richard Reddie, "The Church: Enslaver Or Liberator?": An article from the BBC History site.
Thomas Craemer, "Framing Reparations," Policy Studies Journal, 37 (2009): 275-98.
Walter Johnson, "Slavery, Reparations And The Mythic March Of Freedom," Raritan, 27 (Fall 2007): 41-67.
Kevin Shillington, "Abolition And The Africa Trade," History Today, 57 (March 2007): 20-27.
Marika Sherwood, "The Nefarious Trade," History Today, 57 (March 2007): 28-29.
James Walvin, "Slavery And The British," History Today, 52 (March 2002).

OVERVIEW AND MISCELLANEOUS

International Slavery Museum: The homepage for a Liverpool, UK museum.
Religion And Ethics -- Slavery: A brief interfaith look at slavery and theology from the BBC.
Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-1797): A very concise biography from BBC History.
Black Presence -- Asian And Black History In Britain, 1500-1850: A British National Archives virtual exhibition.
Slave Trade -- Spartacus: A resource from the educational internet historical encyclopedia.
History Of Slavery -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Slavery -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Slavery: A Wikipedia Schools contribution.
Slavery In Brazil -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Slavery In The British And French Caribbean -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Virtual Visit Of Goree: A UNESCO web-site about the Senegalese island.
Slavery And The Making Of America: A companion web-site for a PBS documentary series.

MODERN SLAVERY

"Modern Slavery," BBC News In-Depth Special Report.
"Scale Of African Slavery Revealed," BBC News, April 23, 2004.
Allan Little, "Nigeria's 'Respectable' Slave Trade," BBC From Our Own Correspondent, April 17, 2004.
"Millions 'Forced Into Slavery,'" BBC News, May 27, 2002.