On Wednesday evening (20/02/2013), The London Metropolitan Archives/Friends of The Huntley's hosted the first Huntley Symposium.
The guest speaker on the evening was Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and the subject matter was reparations. This is the issue which Professor Beckles latest book "Britain's Black Debt" tackles.
As most members of the African Caribbean communities will realise, this is a very contentious issue for us. It is one of those discussions which finds families polarised on either side of the argument. It is the kind of issue which seems irreconcilable. On either side we have people for whom this is a clear cut situation, there are very few that hold the middle ground.
I support the view that Britain and all those nations, religions and other institutions which participated in the enslavement and dehumanisation of Afrikans at home and abroad, should make it their duty to begin to repair the damage their ancestors have done.
Professor Beckles highlighted a case; the Lascelles family from England (commoners) went to the WestIndies in the 17th century, to "make their fortunes." This they succeeded in doing, in fact they became one of the largest shippers and owners of enslaved Afrikans in Britain. This also made them he wealthiest commoner family in England. Their prize was first; acceptance into the aristocracy, with Edwin Lascelles taking the title Earl of Harewood and second; marriage into royalty.
In 1759 work was started on Harewood House, Leeds; the constructiion of which took 12 years.
By the beginning of the 18th century, this family had holdings in Jamaica, Barbados, Tobago and Grenada. In Barbados they ran the Bell Plantation which they eventually relinquished in 1975.
This is living proof that slavery is not something of the dim past, but a clear and present issue
The guest speaker on the evening was Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and the subject matter was reparations. This is the issue which Professor Beckles latest book "Britain's Black Debt" tackles.
As most members of the African Caribbean communities will realise, this is a very contentious issue for us. It is one of those discussions which finds families polarised on either side of the argument. It is the kind of issue which seems irreconcilable. On either side we have people for whom this is a clear cut situation, there are very few that hold the middle ground.
I support the view that Britain and all those nations, religions and other institutions which participated in the enslavement and dehumanisation of Afrikans at home and abroad, should make it their duty to begin to repair the damage their ancestors have done.
Professor Beckles highlighted a case; the Lascelles family from England (commoners) went to the WestIndies in the 17th century, to "make their fortunes." This they succeeded in doing, in fact they became one of the largest shippers and owners of enslaved Afrikans in Britain. This also made them he wealthiest commoner family in England. Their prize was first; acceptance into the aristocracy, with Edwin Lascelles taking the title Earl of Harewood and second; marriage into royalty.
In 1759 work was started on Harewood House, Leeds; the constructiion of which took 12 years.
By the beginning of the 18th century, this family had holdings in Jamaica, Barbados, Tobago and Grenada. In Barbados they ran the Bell Plantation which they eventually relinquished in 1975.
This is living proof that slavery is not something of the dim past, but a clear and present issue
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