Britain's Slave Trade (Channel 4 History) Book

Europe has reaped the rewards whilst Africa has suffered the costs of the slave trade. This is clearly demonstrated in the highly readable accompaniment to a Channel 4 television series, Britain's Slave Trade, which provides an intriguing illustration of how events that have become disassociated from mainstream history show in the face of modern Britain. S.I. Martin reveals how the slaving legacy extends to Britain's politics, to the industrial and architectural heritage, to high street banks and to the genetics of the current population. He does not shy away from slavery's shocking cruelty or from sensitive issues, such as the role of Africans in the trade. He also examines the abolition movement, stressing the importance of Black radicals and pointing out that the advantages of abolition for the British went beyond the humanitarian. General historical background is combined with short studies of specific individuals and places, incorporating substantial quotations from Europeans and Africans--from historical figures, from modern scholars and from living descendants of slaves and slavers. For a relatively brief book, Britain's Slave Trade manages to provide wide coverage in both time and in its range of topics. It is concerned about the future as well as the past, offering a hope that a more complete awareness of the legacy of slavery may be a force for closer social unity. --Karen Tiley.Read More