"When slavery was abolished in the British empire in 1833, it was thought only reasonable that slave-owners should be recompensed for the loss of their property: the British government had to borrow the equivalent of 17bn at current values to do this and that loan was not completely paid off until 2015. Meanwhile, the slaves themselves never received a penny in compensation. There have always been dedicated Black campaigners for reparations, but it is only recently that their demands have gained momentum."
"One thing that discourages people from discussing the subject is the idea that it involves a huge transfer of money. But this book stresses from the beginning that giving reparations is not necessarily about financial compensation. Primarily, it is about recognising the terrible wrong wrought by the transatlantic slave trade, and the importance of understanding its effects on how we live now."
When slavery was abolished in the British empire in 1833 slave-owners received state compensation while enslaved people received nothing. The British government borrowed the equivalent of 17bn at current values and did not finish repaying that loan until 2015. Calls for reparations have gained momentum alongside intensified political focus on race and migration. Reparations can take multiple forms including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation and public apology, and institutional mechanisms such as a Caribbean Community (Caricom) body could receive claims. Reparations emphasize recognising the wrongs of the transatlantic slave trade and addressing its ongoing economic and psychological effects rather than only large financial transfers.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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