Abolition 200

Olaudah Equiano | Links

Introduction

In 2007, Bristol commemorated the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. Bristol was both at the centre of the slave trade and the campaign to abolish slavery. Bristol's community, voluntary and social enterprise sector responded to the bicentenary with a range of events, new projects, talks, plays, music etc.

The Legacy of Abolition 200

Abolition 200 continues. We realise that 2007 could not pass without creating a Legacy (actions that will be long lasting and have beneficial and meaningful impact). This is to ensure that the practices, activities, learning and awareness raising which emerged in 2007 will bring about positive improvements for Black communities and wider communities.

Although projects were funded for 2007, the outcomes are intended to be longer lasting. Effective change requires more than a year’s programme of events – 2007 was only a beginning. The year saw a huge amount of good practice; it motivated people and groups from a wide range of communities to:

Form partnerships and links
Overcome barriers of creating dialogue on issues related to the transatlantic slave trade and related to racism
Push their own boundaries and comfort zones to get involved
Challenge their perceptions about themselves and other groups
Explore commonalities and difference within the communities in which they exist
Enhanced creativity and creative expression

This was achieved through seminars and debates, artistic and cultural events, projects delivering services, new partnerships.

Given all this, there is much more to do and conflicts to resolve about the way forward. Some people feel the need to remember, others feel the need to forget, some feel the need to reflect, and others feel the need to move on. There are therefore complexities about how to approach Legacy, but it cannot be denied that 2007 enabled us to learn more about ourselves and others in a wider context and this should not be lost.

Voscur’s view is that we will continue to promote the Legacy of Abolition 200 on our web page because we want to reflect the fact that issues from 2007 should be taken forward throughout 2008 and beyond, and be built on, whether through necessary funding and resources, debate and dialogue, or continued awareness raising.

Apply to be a Legacy Commissioner !

Due to popular demand in interest, an extension has been granted to
the deadline for the receipt of applications for new commissioners for
the Bristol Legacy Commission, to take forward the work started during
2007 as part of Abolition 200.

The new deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 23rd May.

Details of how to apply and further information can be found at:

www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Local-History-Heritage/bristol-legacy-commission.en

The Council's Legacy Report

Abolition 200 aimed to be a catalyst to provide sustainable improvements in the quality of life of Bristol’s residents, and those of African and African Caribbean heritage in particular. Bristol City Council agreed a resolution including a statement of regret and commitment to sustainable improvements to services that deliver racial reconciliation and social justice.

A draft legacy report from the Bristol City Council Abolition 200 steering committee outlining the outcomes from the year and recommendations for the future is now available and the final report is expected to be out soon.

The draft report can be downloaded below and we will put the final version on this page when it is available.

Download draft legacy report (pdf 193kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 1 (Abolition 200 Steering Group members) (pdf 19kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 2 (Bristol city Council Motion of Commemoration) (pdf 14kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 3 (Photo of statement of regret) (pdf 115kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 4 (Abolition 200 projects) (pdf 35kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 5 (Abolition 200: Bristol's programme) (pdf 79kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 6 (Bristol City Council Workforce statistics) (pdf 57kb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 7 (Bristol City Council Departmental Responses) (pdf 1.14mb)

Download draft legacy report Appendix 8 (Demographic information) (pdf 203kb)

Events

THURSDAY 3rd JULY 2008 (6.00pm)

HISTORIA THEATRE PRESENTS: AN AFRICAN'S BLOOD

Written and directed by Kate Glover at the Malcolm X Community Centre, 141 City Road, St Paul's, Bristol, BS2 8YH. Tickets £7 / £5 Concessions. To book contact the Box Office on 0117 955 4497 or 0793 859 7654.

The Play will be presented as a dramatic reading by six professional actors and will last just over an hour.

An African's Blood traces the events leading to the Abolition of the Slave Trade which was finally achieved on 25th March 1807. It tells the story of William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and ex-slave Olaudah Equiano as they battle to change the hearts and minds of those who felt the slave trade and the use of slaves on sugar plantations in the West Indies was essential to the British Economy. Finally, the people understood and actions such as a sugar boycott helped the abolitionists to achieve their goals. The play begins and ends with a reminder that slavery is still with us and that there is much to be done.

Abolition 200 and Fair Trade

2007 marks 200 years since Britain abolished the transatlantic Slave Trade and is an important milestone on the path to the total abolition of slavery. The campaigning success of the reformers and slaves themselves should be recognised and applauded whilst recognising the appalling human abuse of slavery. However, Fairtrade feels that the way in which Britain and other Western Nations trade with countries we exploited through the Slave Trade, is still unfair. The most fitting commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade would be to bring about real and lasting change across the poorest nations. Fairtrade practices can help to achieve this.

The Abolitionists' rallies, campaigns and boycotts are very much recognisable in calls for trade justice today. By using our consumer power to buy Fairtrade goods we are telling politicians to change the way we trade.

If you want to find out more about Fairtrade in Bristol please visit:www.bristolfairtradenetwork.org.uk or contact Jenny Foster, Bristol Fairtrade Network Co-ordinator on 0117 922 4916.

Schools and Abolition 200

Voting results of Abolition 200 Youth Conference (pdf 1.83mb) (January 2008)

The Consortium of Black Groups' (COBG) Position Statement on the Bi-Centenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade

Please click here to view this statement (pdf).

Exhibitions

Breaking the Chains

Opens Monday 23rd April 2007 - ends in 2008 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Clock Tower Yard Temple Meads, Bristol.

The South West's leading slave trade exhibition, 'Breaking the Chains' will explore West African life before slavery, the Middle Passage, life and cultural survival on the Caribbean Islands, the abolition movement and the legacies of slavery that are with us today. The exhibition will pay tribute to the resilience and courage of those who were enslaved and the tireless abolition campaigners. There will also be a programme of music, dance, drama and lectures.

More info at www.empiremuseum.co.uk

Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-c.1797)

Olaudah Equiano was an African-born writer whose experiences as a slave prompted him to become involved in the British abolitionist movement.

Equiano was born in west Africa, probably Nigeria, and was the son of a chief. At around the age of 11, he was kidnapped with his sister and they soon became separated. Equiano was shipped acorss the Atlantic
or 'Middle Passage' to Barbados as a slave. He was then taken on to Virginia and bought by a British naval officer, Henry Pascal who renamed him 'Gustavus Vassa' after the 16th Century Swedish King. Later
he was sold to Robert King, a Quaker Merchant in Philadelphia. He learned to read and write and was taught about Christianity. Equiano saved money carefully and in 1766 was able to buy his freedom. He then
became a sailor, travelling all over the world. In 1773, he took part in an expedition to try to discover the Northwest Passage.

In London, he became involved in the movement to abolish slavery which led to the publication in 1789 of his book 'The Interesting narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the
African'. He then travelled throughout England promoting the book, which told of his childhood and experiences as a slave. It became immensely popular, helping the abolitionist cause and made Equiano
wealthy. It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer.

In 1792, Equiano married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen and they had two daughters. Equiano died on 31st March 1797.