Exhibitions
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Abolitionist will star at exhibition
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| Mike Bradley, as Thomas Clarkson (Photo: Joanne Westbrook) |
An exhibition marking the end of the transatlantic slave trade has opened in north London, and was brought alive by the appearance of a character from the period who worked towards abolition.
Enfield and the Transatlantic Slave Trade opened at Forty Hall last Thursday, Slavery Remembrance Day.
The exhibition displays artefacts of the time and offers the chance to learn about the appalling human trade and how it was brought to an end.
Appearing at the exhibition at various points will be the character of Thomas Clarkson, a leading abolitionist of the time who will talk to visitors about how the slave trade began and how it was stopped.
Cllr Denise Headley, a member of the elimination of slavery working group at Enfield Council, also welcomed the exhibition which is curated by the Enfield Museum Service, and praised staff at Forty Hall for hosting the exhibition.
Cllr Headley said: "It's good that they are addressing the issues. It's about that period of history and all the social and economic machinations of that time."
In 1787 Quakers formed the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, which included Thomas Clarkson, an Anglican reverend. William Wilberforce, an MP, was their parliamentary spokesman and the society was supported by leading African abolitionists Olaudah Equino and Ottobah Cugoano.
Clarkson's job for the committee was to collect information and evidence that would aid the campaign for abolition.
This research includes a famous picture he produced of a slave ship, illustrating the horrendous conditions used to transport people from Africa to be used in British Colonies as slaves.
The Slave Trade Act in 1807 outlawed the African slave trade, but the practise of using slaves continued in the British Colonies, leading to a renewed drive to abolish the practise in its entirety.
In 1833 the Government passed a bill outlawing slavery in all British territories. This act became law in 1834.
The date of the Slave Trade Act, 1807, is used as the date the slave trade was ended. This year is the 200th anniversary of that year and 2007 has seen a surge in the debate about and remembrance of slavery, with exhibitions across the country and the opening of the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.
2:10pm Wednesday 29th August 2007
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