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- Websites
- Slavery narratives
- Fiction
- General reading
- Films
- History trails
- Exhibitions and museums
- Events
Websites
Breaking the Silence - Learning about the transatlantic slave trade
http://www.antislavery.org/breakingthesilence/index.shtml
A site that aims to help teachers and educators to Break the Silence that continues to surround the story of enslavement.
The Story of Africa: Slavery
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section9.shtml
Slavery is examined in the wider context of African history on this BBC World Service website.
The House of Slaves, Gorée Island, Senegal
http://webworld.unesco.org/goree/
The House of Slaves, Goree Island in Senegal, was prison to hundreds of thousands of Africans until they were sold and loaded onto ships sailing to America. Take a virtual tour of the House of Slaves through video and photographs.
Africans in America
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/home.html
This website explores America's involvement in Transatlantic Slavery from the growth of slavery in the American South to Abolitionism and the Civil War.
Spartacus slavery website
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk./USAslavery.htm
A wealth of resources from slaves' accounts to information about campaigners against slavery.
Parliament and the British Slave Trade - 1600-1807
http://slavetrade.parliament.uk/
The site explores the complex relationship between Parliament and the British Slave Trade. It makes available all of the key documents in the parliamentary archives including the 1807 Act and slave trade petitions. There is also a learning section which has lesson plans and tools for creating interactive learning resources.
Slavery narratives
Slavery narratives were written or dictated by slaves and ex-slaves and allow direct insights into their lives.
"The Interesting Narrative" and other writings by Olaudah Equiano, edited by Vincent Carretta, Penguin Classics,1996.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, by Frederick Douglass, edited by Houston A. Baker, Penguin Classics,1982.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Unabridged, by Harriet Jacobs, Dover Thrift Editions, 2001.
The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave, by Mary Prince, edited by Sarah Salih, Penguin Classics, 2000.
Fiction
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, edited by Ann Douglas, Penguin Classics, 1986.
Written in 1852, this white abolitionist novel was used in the campaign against slavery. Today many believe the portrayal of
Uncle Tom, as a relatively simple character, reveals the widespread racism of the time.
Roots by Alex Hayley, Vintage, 1994.
First published in 1976, Roots is the reconstruction of Alex Hayley's personal family history and so has elements of fiction
and fact. Roots was enormously popular during the 1980s and had a huge impact on popular culture.
Beloved by Toni Morrison, Vintage, 1997.
Beloved tells the story of Sethe, a former slave and is based in the years following the American Civil War. First published
in 1987.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Virago, 1984.
Published in 1969, this autobiographical work reveals the continued impact of slavery in the American South.
Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth, Penguin Books, 1993.
Sacred Hunger tells the story of a Liverpool slave ship and the men on board, focusing on slavery from a European viewpoint.
First published in 1992.
Joseph Knight by James Robertson, Fourth Estate, 2003
A young Scot, part of the defeated Jacobite army at Culloden, goes to Jamaica to seek his fortune. There he buys a young black
slave, Joseph Knight, and later takes him to Scotland when he returns home a rich man. However, Joseph Knight is not happy with
his station and sets about becoming a free man.
General reading
The Slave Trade by James Walvin, Sutton Pocket Histories, 1999.
Slavery: An Introduction to the African Holocaust by Black History Resource Working Group, Race Equality Management Team, 1997.
Films
Amistad, 1997, chronicles the 1839 revolt on board the slave ship Amistad.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins and Dijimon Houson.
Available on VHS and DVD.
The Colour Purple, 1985, tells the story of Celie, a young Black girl living in segregated American South.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Available on VHS and DVD.
History trails
Liverpool Slavery History Trail: Guided Tours
A fascinating guided walking tour through areas of Liverpool connected with the slave trade. All tours last an hour and a half and include up hill walking.
Depart Sat & Sun 11am from Merseyside Maritime Museum; £4 with concessions for children and senior citizens.
Tel: 0151 726 0941 or 0151 709 7862
For group bookings at other times, contact Jackie Wilson, The Mersey Partnership, telephone 0151 237 3925, international telephone +44 151 237 3925.
Bristol Slavery Trail
A Slave Trade Trail around Central Bristol is published by the City Museum & Art Gallery and is available from:
Museum Shop
City Museum & Art Gallery
Queen's Road
Bristol
BS8 1RL
Tel: 0117 922 3571
Exhibitions and museums
International Slavery Museum
This museum looks at both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery. It explores the reasons why millions of Africans were forced into slavery and the crucial role that Liverpool played in this bloody trade. There is also a gallery dedicated to exploring the modern legacy of the trade.
Albert Dock
Liverpool
L3 8EN
Tel: 0151 478 4499
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Wisbech & Fenland Museum
Transatlantic Slavery is examined at the museum and the displays focus in particular on the life and works of Thomas Clarkson, born in Wisbech, who was a leading British campaigner against the slave trade.
Wisbech & Fenland Museum
Museum Square
Wisbech
Cambridgeshire
PE13 1ES
Tel: 01945 583817
http://www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk/
Lancaster Maritime Museum
This museum occupies two historic buildings on St. George's Quay, the main 18th century harbour. Slavery is featured as part of the displays on the history of the Port of Lancaster.
Lancaster Maritime Museum
St George's Quay
Lancaster
LA1 1RB
Lancashire
England
Tel: 01524 64637
http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/
Wilberforce House Museum
This museum is based in Wilberforce House, the birthplace of William Wilberforce, one of the best known European campaigners for the abolition of slavery.
Wilberforce House Museum
High Street
Kingston upon Hull
HU1 1NCE
http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/museums/wilberforce/
If you can't make it to Hull an excellent virtual tour is available at http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/wilberforcehouse/.
National Maritime Museum
Transatlantic Slavery is examined as part of the Trade and Empire gallery. This gallery looks at the relationship between maritime trade and the development of the British Empire.
National Maritime Museum
Park Row
Greenwich
London
SE16 9NF
Tel: 020 8312 6565
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/
Bristol Industrial Museum
The Bristol & Transatlantic Slavery gallery looks at the role of the city and its merchants in the 18th century slave trade. The role of merchants in the trade and the benefits to the city from the profits of the slave trade are explored.
Bristol Industrial Museum
Princes Wharf
Wapping Road
Bristol
BS1 4RN
Tel: 0117 925 1470
http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
This museum presents an accessible history of the British Empire and includes a display on Transatlantic Slavery.
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
Station Approach
Temple Meads
Bristol
BS1 6QH
Tel: 0117 925 4980
http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk
Events
23 August - International day for the remembrance of slavery and its abolition
Find out more about Slavery Remembrance Day events at National Museums Liverpool.