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Scene from Amistad: apology for the slave trade is vital for wellbeing of black people in UK

Residents want city to apologise for its huge role in slave trade

The campaign for official apologies for Britain's role in the trans- Atlantic slave trade moved one step closer to fruition last week as a sample of Bristol residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of an apology.

The Bristol-based British Empire and Commonwealth museum last week hosted a debate on whether the city should offer an official apology for its role in the slave trade.

In 1994 Liverpool city council agreed to apologise for the city's role in the slave trade, but Bristol has been more circumspect in admitting to its role.

Although Bristol was not actually home to slaves, it was the first British port to send ships out to West Africa with trading items to buy captive Africans.

Between 1698 to 1807, when trading in slaves from Africa was outlawed, 2,114 ships set sail from Bristol to Africa and then on to plantations in the Americas, carrying over half a million slaves.

"Bristol was one of the main ports involved in the trading of slaves taken from West Africa to British colonies in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries, and most Bristolians were involved in the slave trade in one way or other," said Dr Gareth Griffiths, director of the museum.

"Local people supplied the labour and provisions for the slaving ships; they created the goods that paid for the slaves and they bought the spoils from the ships when they returned."

The high-tension debate at the Commonwealth museum included around 500 visitors. A majority of the audience (62.7 percent) agreed that institutions in Bristol should apologise.

Abraham Sanyang, a development worker with the campaigning St Paul's Unlimited Community Partnership said that there was a raft of feeling around the issue of slavery in the city.

Sanyang explained, "Streets such as Black Boy hill and White Ladies road are well established streets in Bristol that nobody is talking about."

WRONG

"The general feeling in Bristol is in favour of apologising. On the other hand, people say, 'why should we apologise for something that happened 500 years ago?'. Some say they should not apologise because it was not them, and then some say there is nothing wrong with saying sorry."

He pointed out that apologies needed to come from the cities, not necessarily from the British government, although he would welcome the gesture.

"France set the precedent for Bristol and England," he pointed out.

"I don't think an apology from the government will be worthwhile. We work locally - with the community, the grassroots. It is the people that mater. Our aim is to mobilise all the community of the atrocities committed by slavery and to be able to educate Bristol to take on board its history - a role it can never forget."

He added, "Slavery has caused a lot of problems and we are still recovering from that legacy."

However not everyone has come out in favour of the idea. A Bristol city council spokesperson said that there was "no need for an apology".

"We don't see the need for an apology at this time but if people ask us to look into this then we will," he said.

And Professor Anthony Grayling who chaired the debate, said it would be an "empty gesture".

"It's a rather empty gesture, however sincere it might be. Much more important is first to understand the history of slavery and second, to apply those lessons, because the problem today is much bigger than it ever was."

But Barbara Janke, leader of Bristol City Council, told The Voice: "This is not something that we have considered in the past. We will be putting it to our colleagues."

She continued, "The feeling I have had is that there is a real wish to acknowledge that this was a real fact in our history. We also really want to acknowledge this and move forward and not keep looking back over our shoulders.

"This was a terrible episode and the whole country benefited - an apology should be made nationally. We need to acknowledge what happened and move on and make sure we are fighting racism on all fronts, but also making sure all our citizens have the best opportunities available to them."

MEANINGFUL

She dismissed suggestions that it would be an 'empty gesture'. "That certainly has been put to me, 200 years after, that the people who were not involved and had little knowledge of it - that might seem to those affected by it to be an empty gesture, so that's why it is important that it's sincere and meaningful."

She added, "2007 should offer an opportunity of acknowledgement of this dreadful period and an opportunity to reconcile our history."

Last month, developers backed down over a plan to rename the Broadmead area of Bristol Merchants' Quarter, as this was considered offensive.

Last Wednesday, France became the first EU country to commemorate Slavery Remembrance Day. The recognition was ordered by French President Jacques Chirac on the fifth anniversary of the passing of a law by the French Senate recognising slavery as a crime against humanity.

Hundreds of thousands of slaves were taken by French ships from Africa to plantations in the Caribbean before France banned the practice in 1848. Chirac described the slave trade as 'an indelible stain on history".

Prime Minister Tony Blair has so far refused to announce a slavery memorial day or to offer an apology for Britain's role in the slave trade.

Earlier this year, the Church of England voted to apologise for its role in the slave trade.

Published: 19 May 2006
Issue: 1218

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