The
transatlantic slave trade stands as one of the most inhuman
enterprises in history. At a time when the capitals of Europe
and America championed the Enlightenment of man, their merchants
were enslaving a continent. Racism, not the rights
of man, drove the horrors of the triangular trade. Some 12
million were transported. Some three million died.
Slavery's impact upon Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas
and Europe was profound. Thankfully, Britain was the first
country to abolish the trade. As we approach the commemoration
for the 200th anniversary of that abolition, it is only right
we also recognise the active role Britain played until then
in the slave trade. British industry and ports were intimately
intertwined in it. Britain's rise to global pre-eminence was
partially dependent on a system of colonial slave labour and,
as we recall its abolition, we should also recall our place
in its practice.
It is hard to believe that what would now be a crime against
humanity was legal at the time. Personally I believe the bicentenary
offers us a chance not just to say how profoundly shameful
the slave trade was - how we condemn its existence utterly
and praise those who fought for its abolition, but also to
express our deep sorrow that it ever happened, that it ever
could have happened and to rejoice at the different and better
times we live in today.
The people who fought against slavery came from all walks
of life. They included slaves and former slaves like Olaudah
Equiano, church leaders, statesmen like William Wilberforce
and countless ordinary citizens who signed petitions, marched,
lobbied and prayed for change. The bicentenary is an opportunity
for us all to remember those who were bought and sold into
slavery and those who struggled against its injustices.
Community, faith and cultural organisations, with the support
in many cases of the Heritage Lottery Fund, are already planning
events to mark the bicentenary. We in Government, with local
authorities, will be playing our full part.And the UK is co-sponsoring
a resolution in the UN General Assembly, put forward by Caribbean
countries, which calls for special commemorative activities
to be held by the United Nations to mark the occasion.
We also need, while reflecting on the past, to acknowledge
the unspeakable cruelty that persists in the form of modern
day slavery. Today slavery comes in many guises around the
world - such as bonded labour, forced recruitment of child
soldiers and human trafficking - and at its root is poverty
and social exclusion.
We also need to respond to the problems of Africa and the
challenges facing the African and Caribbean diaspora today.
Africa, of course, is a place of great beauty, fantastic diversity
and a resilient and talented people with enormous potential.
It is also the only continent getting poorer and where, in
many places, life expectancy is falling.
But the world is now focussing, not least because of the G8
summit and the Make Poverty History campaign, on how we can
help Africa tackle its problems. Agreement was reached to
double aid to Africa by 2010, to write off the debts of the
poorest countries and massively to increase funding to tackle
AIDS and improve healthcare and education.
Britain is playing its full part both through increasing bilateral
aid and through international leadership. The International
Finance Facility for Immunisation, which we have launched,
should save five million children a year.
All this is making a difference. Debt relief is already beginning
to flow. It has, for example, enabled Zambia to scrap charges
for health care. Thisis taking place in partnership with African
Governments and their people. But there is a great deal more
to do.
At home, the bicentenary is also an opportunity for us to
pause and consider the enormous contribution today of Black
African and Caribbean communities to our nation. Britain is
richer in every way - for example, in business, politics,
sport, the arts and science - because of the part played by
these communities in every aspect of our national life. But
even 30 years after Labour introduced the groundbreaking Race
Relations Act and set up the Commission for Racial Equality,
there are still barriers to overcome before everyone can make
the most of their talents and potential.
Across government, we are investing in tackling inequality
in education, health, employment, housing and the criminal
justice system. I want to see a future in which everyone can
achieve their full potential. Earlier this week, a group of
young people from Bristol, Hull and Liverpool visited the
capital at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and
I know that our schools and colleges will play a big role
in next year's commemorations and legacy events.
This bicentenary must also be a spur for us to redouble our
efforts to stop human trafficking and all forms of modern
slavery.
But, above all, this 200th anniversary of the abolition of
the slave trade is a chance for all of us to increase our
understanding of the heritage we share, celebrate the richness
of our diversity and increase our determination to shape the
world with the values we share.
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