When it comes to uk stole 25m years of life and labour through slavery in barbados, says report, new research reveals that Britain appropriated a staggering 25 million years of life and labor from the enslaved population of Barbados, resulting in damages estimated between US$1.6 trillion to US$2 trillion. This comprehensive report, led by a team of international experts including Coleman Bazelon, sheds light on the extensive consequences of two centuries of chattel slavery on the island.
Understanding UK Stole 25m Years Of Life And Labour Through Slavery In Barbados, Says Report
The report indicates that the population of African descent in Barbados has faced profound losses due to the brutal system of chattel slavery. Coleman Bazelon, the lead author of the analysis, articulated that this figure is not a demand for reparations but rather an essential acknowledgment of the historical injustices endured. "This research is not creating an invoice for anybody to pay," Bazelon stated. "It is an accounting of the harm that was done.. a recognition of the harm that was done that is the starting point for reconciliation." Originally reported by The Guardian.
Barbados, the first major British colony to enforce slavery, began this dark chapter in the early 1600s. The new findings highlight how the legacy of slavery continues to affect the descendants of those enslaved. Bazelon explained that the analysis considered various forms of loss, including the value of labor unpaid and the shortened lives of enslaved individuals, leading to the estimated total damages.
Historical Context of Compensation
After Britain abolished slavery on August 1, 1834, the British government paid £20 million in compensation to slave owners for the loss of their "property," while the enslaved received no reparations. Bazelon's analysis, conducted by the non-profit organization Public Interest Experts, aimed to calculate the true cost of labor stolen from enslaved individuals in Barbados. The labor value alone is estimated between US$500 billion and US$700 billion, while the loss of life adds an additional US$1.1 trillion to US$1.3 trillion.
According to Bazelon, the total number of individuals affected encompasses 19.9 million people, including those who were captured, those who perished during the horrific Middle Passage, and those born into slavery. Approximately 379,000 Africans disembarked in Barbados, while an estimated 78,000 did not survive the journey across the Atlantic. Moreover, around 335,000 were born into slavery on the island.
The Call for Reparations
During a recent event in Barbados, Trevor Prescod, the Minister for Pan-African Affairs and Heritage, emphasized the importance of addressing the historical injustices. "You can't erase history.. My job is to give an Afrocentric redress to the imbalances that occurred during the period of slavery," Prescod remarked. He noted that the findings from this report would be presented to the cabinet for ratification, asserting the need for public support in advancing their claims for reparations and reparatory justice.
The report holds significant implications for the broader movement advocating for reparations throughout the Caribbean and beyond. As a founding nation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Barbados plays a pivotal role in these discussions. The 2023 Brattle analysis, which encompasses the consequences of transatlantic chattel slavery across 31 territories, estimates total harms ranging from US$100 trillion to US$131 trillion. Notably, this includes ongoing damages that persist long after the abolition of slavery.
Global Recognition of Slavery's Legacy
The international community has begun to grapple with the implications of slavery's legacy. Recently, 123 nations at the UN General Assembly voted to recognize chattel slavery as one of the gravest crimes against humanity. However, notable dissent came from the United States, Israel, and Argentina, who voted against the resolution, while several European countries, including the UK, chose to abstain.
Despite the growing recognition, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously dismissed the idea of direct monetary reparations. David Lascelles, co-founder of Heirs of Slavery-an organization comprised of descendants of British enslavers-has called for greater acknowledgment of the historical debt owed. He noted, "My distant ancestor Henry Lascelles made his fortune in Barbados in the 18th century. Now, 300 years later, it's high time we all recognize there is a debt to pay." This sentiment reflects a growing awareness of the need for reparative justice in light of the extensive historical injustices faced by the enslaved and their descendants.
The findings of this report are not just statistics; they represent a call for dialogue and reflection on the impact of slavery and the pathways toward reconciliation and justice in Barbados and beyond.
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.