My 15 year old son asked me what does the poppy mean to me. I stated that it is a symbol of rememberance for wars in the past and today. For those that have died in Britain and also abroad. Those that were black, white, indian, asian etc. Sad really as it made me think that we don't even have a bank holiday or a silence like the 11 hour at the 11 day at the 11th month.

Please don't tell me as a black person to get over it, move on. I have children that need to know who they are, where they come from. NO SCHOOL in England is teaching them about their true history. Living in London, we are surrounded around the wealth of the slave trade. LLoyds, Barclays Bank, The Tate and many stately homes that were built from slavery. England out ranking America with riches.

Now one burning question that I have been asking myself lately is where were the slaves in England buried. Surely not next to the white man. No plaque nothing. You see for me it is very clear that Britain would want black people to forget (fear of paying compensation) and sadly I believe that to be true for many of the young generation are not interested or are asleep. Also England would be very happy for black people to blame Africans for selling their own. Regardless England were the main beneficiary. It is time to educate our children on their real history. Living in London I should be surrounded with an array of information. Oh by the way ya think we should move on about WW1 or 2 and not educate our children on that?

One of the people on here started talking about how she is white and how there is so much racisum in this paper against white people,is she having a laugh,this paper is like the Sun at times,and if you read the comments on Yahoo about any subject wow. My comment to that lady is the same one you give to me when I do'nt like something....

Im white but of mixed white descent as have spanish blood. Some of my forefathers were involved in transportation of slaves as they had 3 ships running from Canarias to Guinea Bissau then taking the middle passage. Whilst I think that this was an inhumane trade I do not feel responsible for something that happened hundreds of years ago. Why should the Africans feel bad or anyone else. Or for that matter the Germans feel bad about Hitler. Life goes on. What I do know is the British treated their slaves very cruelly. The British at that time did not allow much african culture/tradition to be practiced and continued. If you go to Brasil and latin america you will see more african culture and even african religion and language is much stronger than say Jamaica or the USA.

As a fairly recent white reader of "the voice" I am astonished at the real bitter hatred of all things "white". If the same degree of racism were expressed in any other media, there would be outrage and legal threats from all sides.

The UK and England in particular is the most tolerant country on earth where there are representatives from more countries than any other country on earth.

The first comment from "anonymous" speaks of a deeply rooted hatred and animosity of white people and subsequent comments about slavery seem extreme, almost as though slavery had only just been abolished. Britain has always moved on from its wars and international "disagreements" without looking back. There is evidence for every race, creed, religion, sect and group to feel aggrieved at some event in the past. Britain was conquered and colonised by Romans, Angles, Saxons, Danes , Vikings and Normans. In time they are integrated but not without considerable bloodshed and loss of nationhood. But that was then. Move on.

you have to give it to the white man,very clever,he got these ignorant ne**oes fighting each other over who sold who,while he got extremely rich off slavery and still continues to enslave negroes today(in much clever ways)while the ne**oes are fighting about what happened 400 years ago in 2011.
I will give a clue,the whites know that majority of ne**oes dont read.keep fighting people,you are only donig what the whites trainned you to do so he can get richer.

Talk Trollope to people who don't KNOW Africans!!

Dotun, your West Indian partner has my sympathies! I bet your family don't really approve or, pretend to approve!

They can apologise when they're ready, but they never will cos their always more than ready to suck-up to the white man, Indians and everybody else, at the expense of their caribbean 'brothers'! There's a name for such people!

Dotun is African and I'm here dealing with Africans' contribution to the slave trade. Any other people's efforts I can discuss another time. Meanwhile, there must be a name for people who would sell their own people into slavery, other than - Africans! I still can't think of it but the stench of them overhwhelms me!

@Mon, 2011-07-25 01:00
"Dotun's partner is one of the most conscious artists of Jamaican descent, Carroll Thompson. I can assure you that she would not be involved with someone who is not conscious."

How do you know - do you know them both personally to make a statement like that? He may have a spiritual partner but that doesn't make a person any less racist I'm afraid.

It's sad to read this article, and further to read the sentiment expressed above.

I do not belittle the force of that sentiment. But I hope you see how saddening it is to read this, as a Black Man.

Without doubt the actual burden of the experience of slavery, rest on the shoulders of those who actually were there to experience the horrors. That perhaps, though I am guessing, includes those who came before the commenter above. Though does not actually include the commenter as he, or she, was not there. However, where I feel that none of us are exempt be you of African Descent, or from modern day African, is the continued dehumanising legacy of slave trade. And further, I point out, that those who care to discriminate, care little if your name is Bob or Fela. (Though security, within one's identity, is clearly part of the continued legacy).

Clearly, I am speaking from experience, as I am not a scholar in this field. I hope you also see that I speak with sympathy, as to heal a rift, there must be an acknowledgement of perspectives, whether one agrees, or otherwise. But, I hope in a moment of reason you see that not ALL African, if any at all living today, can be held responsible in your own mind for the sad fact that some Black Africans were traded as commodity. And if you must blame Africans, at least home in on a particular section of the African community, because as you know, the continent is vast, and diverse. Perhaps more diverse than those who have not spent any time even in one African nation, could appreciate.

The problem is more sophisticated than that, compounded by the fact the problem has moved on, but a solutions it seems remain beyond us, still.

But as I am aware, and like in most societies throughout of all time, there was a class system or hierarchy in place during those times of slavery. And even today. And yes, even today in our beloved UK.

I know of a small West African community, that within its wider community, has only recently, broken free from a legacy of being considered lower caste. And to pay attention to the nuances of the problem, is equal part enlightening, as it is distressing in that way all humanity has a tendency to provoke in us from time to time.

As a man of a certain amount of experience, there have been many occasions where discussion of this issues has almost come to blows. And I'm sure many of you have also experienced many of the tensions bubbling within. But that is no reason to shy away from the issues.

Yes, I feel fortunate to be at greater liberty today than many of those in the past. And as I sit enjoying that greater liberty today, I must acknowledge the many battles fought, around the globe, in easing the misery of others, and indeed liberating others. Though I was not there to fight some of those battles, the very least I can do in contributing toward a continued progress, as a Black Man, it to never perpetuate any ignorant, and unfounded, attitudes toward a fellow Black Man. At least not on the level of where in the world your black skin comes from.

I am actually surprise that nobody else has come out to add their piece to this discussion. I feel it is important. Many of you must be grounded within your own perspective. It is only through discussion that we can understand one another, in the hope of practising, at the very least, a mindfulness toward one another.

To the commenter above, and any an all who happen upon this article, and these comments, I wish you all Peace. That Peace that can only be found within.

Dotun, when you and your racist African brothers and sisters are prepared to apologise to West Indians and Afro Americans for selling us into slavery, and subsequently being as racist as you are towards us today and as you have been for ages, then I'll be prepared to become engaged with you on the subject of slavery or any other subject. In the meantime, you know what you can do!!