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position statement For the purpose of clarification the term 'African' refers to any person of African heritage/ethnicity. This includes but is not limited to Africans with Caribbean heritage, Africans with dual heritage, and any African typically labelled with the colour coded epithet ‘black’. The organisation and business members of this Truth 2007 coalition state as follows: 1. The events of 1807 have no special significance to African people and we challenge and address all expressions of historical inaccuracy made in relation to the Maafa. We therefore dissociate ourselves from any events that appear to herald the actions of “abolitionists” such as William Wilberforce as the primary emancipators of enslaved Africans in 1807. 2. Truth 2007 will seek to bring focus on the socio-political background of the Abolition of Slavery Act passed in 1833, the period of colonialism that immediately followed and promote the history of the numerous African freedom fighters that fought and perished for the liberation of their people. 3. Truth 2007 events, will commence from February 2007 under the banner of International African History Month and wherever possible run throughout the year. From 2008 onwards, African History Month will be marked in February in sync with other African communities around the world. 4. We will continue to mark an African Remembrance Day in August which recognises the Maafa by addressing the history of African people prior to enslavement, during enslavement and afterwards. We dissociate ourselves from ‘slavery memorial’ events which assert African history begins and ends with slavery and the abolition of slavery by europeans. 5. We use the Kiswahili word Maafa to encapsulate the history of invasion, slavery, colonisation, neo-colonialism and their legacy upon all African people. 6. We support calls for an annual two minute silence during Notting Hill Carnival to remember the African people lost during the Maafa. We recommend that all participating vendors partake in this symbolic gesture of national reflection. 7.
We support the call of reparations for the Maafa. If
you support our objectives and would like to become part of a dynamic
movement for change and Truth, please contact info@truth2007.org |