Breaking The Chains

Breaking the Chains Report - Carey Burke

Breaking the Chains 2007/08 Report

'A Report on Breaking the Chains West Midlands and the regional response to commemorating the parliamentary abolition to the slave trade act in 1807'

About Breaking the Chain West Midlands

In 2006 Breaking the Chains West Midlands was convened by the Black History Foundation as part of a national initiative to focus on the commemorations of the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade in 1807. The initial vision was to form a series of regional networks to co ordinate commemorative activities and initiatives, with Birmingham and the West Midlands forming a national 'hub' and feeding into the activities that were planned in the major port cities of Bristol, Liverpool and London. At that stage, most of the attention for the Bicentenary was focused on those cities as they had been inextricably linked with the slave trade. The challenge for Breaking the Chains was to highlight the West Midlands' role in the history of slavery and abolition. Although a landlocked region, its central location and industrial power provided the port cities with the hardware necessary to fit out slave ships and provide trade goods for exchange with humans on the West African coast. Indeed, slavery was an important facet of Birmingham's rise to wealth. When abolition was first seriously debated in parliament in 1791, Birmingham merchants sent a petition to parliament saying abolition would bankrupt the city.

From its inception Breaking the Chains sought to work with communities and voluntary sector groups, public and statutory sector bodies and representatives from the commercial sector in order to find the best way address and commemorate this important time in history. Individuals and organisations committed to raising awareness, participation in and access to the bi-centenary commemorations formed the Breaking the Chains Network.. The Network consisted of over forty members, representing organisations including the BBC, Birmingham City Council, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, West Midlands Police, the Probation Service, Advantage West Midlands, regional Local Authorities and a number of organisations representing the arts, culture and community sectors.

Together the Breaking the Chains Board and the Network developed a common vision for the 2007 commemorations for Birmingham and the wider region by providing a framework for advocacy and debate; a framework that represented the views and opinions of members in response to the 2007 commemoration. To achieve a coordinated approach to the bi-centenary Breaking the Chains implemented activities that:

" Raised the level of education and awareness through a coordinated marketing and communication strategy,
" Influenced local, sub-regional, regional and national policies that impact on the 2007 commemorations; and
" Facilitate the process of fund raising to ensure adequate investment in planned initiatives.

These aims were achieved through sub-groups (Education, Funding and Marketing & Communications) and regular meetings of the Board and Network. The network meetings acted as information sharing exercises, whilst the Board acted strategically and the sub groups implemented the vision. There were successes and some disappointments, and this document will endeavour to explore what worked, what didn't and what we can all learn form the 2007 Bicentenary.


The Context: The Background of TST and The Abolition Act of 1807

March 25th 2007 marked 200 years since the British parliament passed the abolition of the slave trade act by royal decree. It is important to remember that the law passed made it illegal for British ships to trade in enslaved Africans, yet it would be another 26 years until 1833 when enslaved Africans living in British colonies were emancipated.

The transatlantic slave trade was possibly the largest forced migration in human history, it is estimated that between15 - 20 million Africans were enslaved, forcibly removed and transported to the Americas and Caribbean from their homes and societies. This figure however does not include the millions that died during the journey of the middle passage.

Although it has been largely understated, Birmingham and the West Midlands played a significant role in this bleak chapter of British history. The region did not only benefit greatly from the trade of enslaved Africans but was also eventually instrumental in the abolition movement.

In historical terms Birmingham, although smaller in size than it is today, the city and surrounding areas became the 'workshop of the world' and was also known as 'the gun capital of the world' because of its involvement in importing and supplying guns, chains and shackles to slave trading countries throughout Europe. The complexity of the regions intertwined history in the trade of enslaved Africans can be demonstrated by institutions such as the Quaker movement the Lunar Society. Matthew Boulton, a leading figure of the Lunar Society, was a manufacturer who supplied steam engines to plantation owners was a supporter of abolition, and Samuel Galton, a leading Quaker, was the regions' number one supplier of guns to slave traders in Africa.

Involvement in the slave trade was not only limited to the British and Europeans. African countries and various tribes also participated in the trade. When the figures are analysed we find that the tribal involvement was less significant. With closer scrutiny we will find that Africans were sold guns that destabilised tribal norms, and destroyed existing economies. Individual countries and regions such as West Africa that are naturally rich with Gold and Diamonds became destabilised; it is estimated 20,000,000 guns were sold to Africa in the 18th Century by Europe.

For the purpose of commemorating, remembrance, healing, legacies and interpretation, it is important to understand the context of the Transatlantic Slave Trade or the European Enslavement of Africans. It is true that slavery had existed long before British involvement in the 16th Century and it is true that forms of contemporary slavery still exists in Africa and across the world today. However during this period of history Britain was responsible for raising the stakes of trading in human commodities, and introduced brutal systems of torture and dehumanisation; these are possibly the first notions of capitalisation and globalisation that led to the majority of the wealth of the British Empire and Britain's wealth today.

So as we review the events and activities that took place in during 2007 and how we marked the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade act, it is important to recognise key figures of the abolitionist movement in Britain who highlighted the pain, suffering and injustice of the inhumane trade. Some balance was restored by British individuals such as William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Joseph Sturge, and Africans like Olaudah Equiano and Ottobah Cuguano and we pay tribute to them.

Many believe that Britain has taken the moral high ground regarding the 1807act, as abolitionists spent years putting forward moral and faith based arguments in order to stop the trade in enslaved Africans. However part of the story that is greatly under-represented is the resistance and rebellion of Africans on Caribbean plantations and in West Africa.

Organised and well thought out rebellions frequently took place and successively defeated the British Army (Jamaican Maroon wars in the 1760s) and Napoleon (Haiti, 1804), not to mention the numerous small-scale uprisings and subtle forms of resistance employed on the plantations, such as sabotage of equipment, and absenteeism. . Britain was already losing the control of its plantations and of the African captives, as they revolted against the brutal regime. As in current times economics is a key factor in the decisions of governments, and the economic prosperity of the slave trade was dwindling due to African resistance, giving the abolitionists another route in trying to change the hearts and minds of the British people.

On 25th March 1807 the act abolishing the slave trade in British ships was passed in the first successful stage of abolishing slavery. Wilberforce, the parliamentarian that has been a focus of the 2007 commemoration, was not in favour of total abolition and did not view Africans as equals. Historians such as Marika Sherwood have illustrated the fact that many British merchants were still involved in slave trading after the abolition act, funding illegal voyages and investing in slave-worked industries in North and South America.
It has been argued that the abolition of slavery was eventually prompted by the 1831'Baptist Wars', led by Sam Sharpe in Jamaica. The uprising was put down with such overt cruelty that the outcry in Britain called for the end of the slavery. Two years later in 1833, slavery was abolished and in 1834 systems of apprenticeship were introduced throughout the British. Caribbean. Apprenticeship was introduced to pacify planters and slave-owners, who argued they would be bankrupt if their labour force were allowed to leave the plantations, and who also argued that the enslaved were not 'ready' for freedom. For many, apprenticeship was 'slavery under another name', and in Britain, people such as Birmingham-based Joseph Sturge were active campaigners for full emancipation, which came into force in 1838.
Slavery was big business and made Britain an economic power house unlike her colonial rivals; Britain also had access to cheap labour in its colonies in Asia and eventually replaced the use of African slaves. On the Caribbean plantations, labour was replaced by the use of indentured labour from the Indian Sub-continent and China.





The Narrative: What took place during 2007?

2007 presented a unique opportunity to discuss, debate and learn about a period of history that has not been properly uncovered or acknowledged. It is also important to remember that in 2007 while it may have been perceived to be in the experience of a particular section of the community, it is shared history in which its legacies are still felt within society today. The 2007 Commemorations did much to highlight Britain's shared history with Africa and the Caribbean.

Many thought 2007 and the bi-centennial commemorations would have received more political input, recognition and focus. In truth rather than being a political issue it became more of a cultural issue and most governmental initiatives or support for the commemorations fell under the remit of the Department for Culture Media and Sport. Nationally, they provided some guidance in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (until the closure of that department), as the Deputy prime Minister at that time, John Prescott expressed interest as he represented the same parliamentary constituency in Hull, as William Wilberforce, the parliamentarian who spearheaded the abolition campaign in parliament 200 years ago. In 2006 there were many quarters who felt Government were not doing enough in addressing and supporting the bicentenary, certainly not in terms of providing funding. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was constantly referred to by Government when questions were raised about funding. Indeed, Heritage Lottery Fund seemed to a natural funder of bicentenary projects, as the initiatives tended to meet many of HLF's criteria, such as 'encourage communities to identify, look after and celebrate their heritage' and increase opportunities for learning about heritage.

By removing the subject of parliamentary abolition of the slave trade from the mainstream and into that of the Arts and Heritage sectors, has been seen by some as the marginalisation of sections of society, and a failure to tackle an important and difficult subject. The reparations debate and questions around the legacies of slavery were political issues that some wished to evade, and many grass-roots organisations felt these were reasons behind the sidelining of political aspects of the bicentenary. Others argued that by observing History through Art creates the ability to address record and express faiths, beliefs and opinions using more creative and critical approaches.

In retrospect, central Government provided some funding within existing streams, such as the Department for Communities and Local Government' (DCLG) Connecting Communities grants and the Department for Culture Media and Sports' (DCMS) Awards For All, as well as additional revenue funding of £250 000 per annum for the next five years for the International Slavery Museum (ISM) in Liverpool from DCMS. Agencies funded by DCMS, such as Arts Council England, English Heritage and HLF were tasked with targeting some of their funding towards bicentenary programmes.

Many individuals believed the commemoration of the bi-centenary would have been a white wash demonstrating and high-lighting the plight of amazing British abolitionists who sought an end to this evil trade that victimised the poor African slaves. Or, indeed the bi-centenary was just an activity that sought to reinforce negative stereotypes of the African Diaspora and was designed to serve no other purpose than to recognise that Britain led the anti-slavery movement.

It was apparent during 2007 that no single event, activity statement or speech would manage to convey a message or theme that would be able to suitably tackle Britain's role in the slave trade. Dealing with this grim period of history that has never been widely or accurately taught, was a sensitive subject to many and carried with it a lot of emotions, clearly the issue of slavery was not something everyone could associate with. It is perhaps fair to say that last year, many people found it was easier to talk about abolitionists and movements rather than understanding the truths, depths and the horrors of the previous law they sought to abolish. It could be argued that the central themes that emerged from 2007 were that of: Britishness and identity, modern and contemporary forms of slavery, equality and social justice.

The West Midlands provided a balanced response to the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade act. There were over 120 events right across the region, and this figure does not include many of the activities provided by grass roots community organisations operating locally, that perhaps did not engage with Breaking the Chains, and so were not included in the figures. Is it possible to have had a balanced response to the bi-centenary in 2007? Well I would suggest the West Midlands achieved this balance by the participation of attendees seeking to add to the cultural mix and debate, and the opportunity for all that was created to understand the subject of slavery from more than one source or author, whilst also empowering people to learn about our shared history. It was the additional stimulus of the Breaking the Chains Network that provided the region with a virtual portal into ideas, events and discussions that encouraged regional and national visitors. The contributions, sharing of information and the constant communication of the Network ensured that Breaking the Chains became a valuable resource and prime source of dissemination for the regional contribution to the national commemorations.


Key Regional Bi-centenary Events

" The Equiano Project, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
" Routes to Freedom Season, The Drum
" Legacies of Slavery Debate, BBC Radio WM
" Interwoven Freedom, English Heritage & SCAWDI
" Saving Our Sons, Walsall Central Library
" Plaque for Joseph Sturge, Birmingham Civic Society
" Sugar Coated Tears, Wolverhampton Art Gallery/ House of Culture
" Black Theology Conference, Black Theology Forum
" 'Kalunga', United Community Education Project
" Slavery: A shared heritage, a shared future, Birmingham City Council
" A Respectable Trade, The Light House
" Three Continents One History, ACMC
" City Voices, Wolverhampton City Council
" Freedom Showcase, Phoenix Arts
" Gospel Now and Then, Kajans Women's Enterprise
" Speaker's Corner, Contemporary Music Network
" Breaking the Chains Education project, Birmingham City Council
" Nobody Knows, Krik Krak Productions
" Commemorative Service, Council of Black Led Churches
" Slavery Remembrance Day, Sandwell MBC & ACMC
" Fighting to be Free, University of Birmingham
As in the past when it comes to uniting people, leading and showing stewardship, role of the church has again been pivotal in reaching members of the African-Caribbean community and uniting people from different backgrounds. On March 25th the Council of Black led churches organised a commemorative service at West Bromwich Convention Centre, this meeting was attended by approx. 3000 people, one of the largest events of its kind in the UK. CBLC in partnership with Birmingham Churches Together provided an enjoyable and enlightening evening of reflection on the abolition of the slave trade in British colonies through inspirational performances, music and drama.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, in partnership with the Equiano Society and supported by HLF, contributed to the year with the excellent Equiano Project, celebrated the life and times of the 18th Century writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano and allowed the audience to follow the journey of an extraordinary individual and high-lighted an African British role model. Before the exhibition opened, some may have feared they would take the 'safe' abolitionist route, , however they chose an African abolitionist to explore the issues surrounding the Transatlantic Slave Trade and to show how the story of slavery and its abolition affects the lives of all British people, and the main narrative of the exhibition was centred around the life and times of Equiano, and looked at all aspects of his life, from childhood in Africa, his enslavement, the struggle for his own freedom, his travels around the world as a sailor and his life as a celebrated Black Briton, lobbying for the freedom of his enslaved brothers and sisters. The project created a successful large-scale exhibition, that exceeded visitor targets and increased attendance of Black and Minority Ethnic visitors to the museum. It also created a website, a touring exhibition, publication and education pack, as well as a number of community based arts projects working with schools, youth groups and elders. ..

Again, with substantial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Afro-Caribbean Millennium Centre (ACMC) produced the multi-faceted Three Continents, One History project, which took a closer look at Birmingham's direct links with the slave trade and the impact on the Caribbean and Africa and aimed to illustrate the interconnectedness of the history of slavery and abolition. Particular focus was given to the resistance and rebellions of enslaved Africans, Birmingham's manufacturing links, the role West Midlands military regiments played in putting down rebellions, the role of religion and the economics of the trade. The Three Continents project held numerous workshops and gave frequent presentations during 2007. From March 2007 to March 2008 Three Continents via New Style Radio broadcasted a 2 hour radio show each week which included debates, dramatisations and topical themes.

BBC WM Ancestry Day gave individuals the opportunity to speak to leading experts, from the National Archives, Roots for Real (DNA Consultancy) and Connecting Histories and other professional organisations, on how to trace their family history. Free advice and information packs where available to help people in search of and wishing to trace their ancestral heritage. This event provided people with the unique opportunity to learn about tracing their origins through the use of DNA, as seen on BBC documentaries such as 'Motherland' and 'Who Do You Think You Are'.

The West Midlands is home to one of Britain's largest Black communities outside London. BBC Radio WM also hosted a major debate into the legacy of slavery in the region which was broadcast live from the Mailbox in Birmingham. The evening of debate and discussions had a specialist panel featuring contemporary black writer Robin Walker and commentators including educationalist Tony Sewell, reparations activist Esther Stanford. The lively and passionate debate was well attended by key figures community, religious leaders, academics and professionals, the evening t was chaired by BBC presenter Trish Adudu.

The Sugar Coated Tears exhibition by the House of Culture and Wolverhampton Art Gallery took a very different approach to the commemorations by focusing on the pain and suffering that was endured by enslaved Africans. The exhibition created and displayed items such as shackles and chains, many of these objects were coated in sugar to show the juxtaposition between instruments of pain and the British sweet tooth, which sustained slavery; the prime product of Caribbean and South American slave worked plantations was sugar. The success of the exhibition was largely due to the interactive nature of the display, with the public being able to handle objects and walk amongst chains that were suspended from the gallery ceiling. The exhibition was thought-provoking and emotive, and was intended to place the bicentenary into its wider context, by looking at slavery rather than abolition. .

However the highlights of 2007 of commemorating the abolition have not all come from high profile or highly funded projects and much of the success is due to the efforts made by smaller community groups or associations. SCAWDI (Sparkbrook Caribbean and African Women's Development Initiative) together with English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund created the Interwoven Freedom exhibition. The touring exhibition hosted textile workbags and creative writing inspired by the history of abolitionist women in Birmingham and Black enslaved women who campaigned for the end of slavery.

Although it is impossible to comment all of the exciting projects that took place over 2007 big or small, another event worth mentioning was the "Blind Memory" exhibition by the African Community Councils in the Region. The exhibition featured a timeline displaying over 300 rebellions, revolts and forms of resistance by Africans in the Caribbean; the project also featured a multi-media exhibition looking at African civilisations before European enslavement, the Transatlantic Slave Trade and archival images that are rarely seen.

The range and scope of work produced in the West Midlands was vast, and success of the regional response to the Abolition has been the highly polished projects and raw uncut events that appealed to a wide range of audiences. This choice created something for everyone and represented a wide range of beliefs and opinions; however it is clear that those individuals that did not attend a variety of activities generally felt much less satisfied about the commemorations that took place during 2007.


Breaking the Chains: the Outcomes

In mid 2006, direction of Breaking the Chains shifted from being a Birmingham City Council (BCC) and Black History Foundation (BHF) led initiative to one that would be steered by community involvement under leadership of the new Chair Dr. Joe Aldred changed BTC from its original formation to provide better regional representation and secretariat support was provided by BCC's Equalities & Diversity department. It was clear that without substantial financial support that had initially been sought from BCC, some of the strength of the initiative would be lost, but with redefined objectives and governance, and financial support from Advantage West Midlands, Government Office West Midlands and West Midlands Police, Service Birmingham funding the website www.breakingthechains.co.uk and other activities.

Over the last 24 months Breaking the Chains West Midlands had created a common vision and had a clearly measurable set of aims and objectives as defined by its network partners in order to commemorate the parliamentary abolition of the slave trade act.

Aims

" To raise awareness of slavery in all its forms
" To increase understanding of transatlantic slavery and its legacy
" To address the inequalities that exist as a result of slavery
" To highlight commemorative resources

Objectives

" To provide support and co ordination for a range of projects across the region - achieved through the network meetings and the website
" To engage communities of interest in 2007 commemorative activities - achieved through marketing targeted at the African-Caribbean communities and the support of grass-roots organisations through the network and additional marketing support.
" To produce educational resources for the teaching of slavery, abolition and social justice - achieved through supporting the Equiano schools project by Birmingham Advisory Support Service.


By the creation of breakingthechains.co.uk BTC WM has been able to reach larger audiences and raise the regions profile in contributing to the national and international commemorations. The website allowed everyday people to contribute to, add to and shape the discussions around 2007 by supplying sample papers, articles and stories, which in turn made the content of the site freer in expression and more representative of the wider community. Breakingthechins.co.uk furthered the partnerships of the BTC Network by providing virtual portals where individuals could learn or research about educational, abolitionists, funding, commemorative and heritage resources. It is clear the website was a valuable reference tool from the inquiries received and the events listings searched; however its success could be due to the fact www.breakingthechains.co.uk received on average over 10,000 unique website-hits per month during 2007.

Through marketing and using all methods of communication including filers, posters, email campaigns, regional distribution networks and city dressings Breaking the Chains highlighted the West Midlands' activities through raising awareness of slavery in all its forms. During 2007 the Breaking the Chains Network provided 4 overlapping marketing campaigns, 2 of these promotions where key leading up to March 25th 2007 and during Black History month during the autumn. The success of the marketing campaign can be measured by vast peaks in website traffic during March - April, and September - November 2007, that demonstrates the effectiveness of Breaking the Chains' marketing and communications strategy. Although this marketing activity was not aimed to promoting individual events, it collectively unified all the efforts of Network members and offered support to a range of organisations and groups.

By Carey Burke

By Carey Burke.

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