Hopes were raised that the transatlantic slave trade and its legacy will be given a national platform, following a parliamentary debate to discuss ways to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain in 2007.
The debate, tabled by Fiona Mactaggart, the under secretary of state for the Home Office, was held last month. As well as the transatlantic slave trade, it covered present-day international slavery. The Home Office was criticised this year for its slow response to 2004, the United Nations year for the commemoration of the struggle against international slavery.
David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool, said: 'It's all very well making announcements in October but the year started in January. It illustrates the apathy.'
Fleming said: 'There has been a national denial. When the British government declared the slave trade illegal [in 1807] it believed all issues were resolved.' He said all British governments have struggled with the idea of slave trade discussions, not only because of the uncomfortable nature of the subject, but because discussion would lead to an apology and to possible reparations.
But the seven Labour MPs and three opposition members who attended and spoke at the debate were all agreed on a need for a national recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity and a national slavery remembrance day.
In her speech, Mactaggart said: 'It might be a day, it might be ensuring using the bicentenary for something huge, it might be developing national curriculum materials that mean that teachers can feel confident teaching [the subject].' She added: 'By 2007, we should have a clear view of how the memorial will be made.'
Museums in Liverpool and Bristol are already making commitments for 2007. Fleming told Museums Journal that he is confident that a fundraising project will be successful for a new museum, with the working title the National Museum and Centre for the Understanding of Transatlantic Slavery.
It is hoped the £8.5m study and research centre, as well as incorporating the existing Against Human Dignity gallery at the Maritime Museum, will be ready by 2007.
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol is one of the partners in the Understanding Slavery project, a museums' initiative to create educational resources linked to the national curriculum.
Gareth Griffiths, the director of the museum, said: 'For 2007, we would want to enhance those materials and consider ways teachers can be assisted. There is a big training issue there.' Griffiths has also been invited by the DfES to submit a proposal to create a national resource to explore the colonial past and commonwealth history.
Ruth Dass, the head of cultural agency, Interculture, said: 'It is all very well to have a national memorial day. But we need to get to the deep-rooted issues of slavery and how Britain was able to afford the industrial advancements [it made]. The way to do it is through education and the national curriculum.'
But she warned that it is not only parts of the black community who feel isolated. 'It is also the educators. They feel they can't move forward because it's not their history. They don't have the knowledge base.'
Felicity Heywood
The debate, tabled by Fiona Mactaggart, the under secretary of state for the Home Office, was held last month. As well as the transatlantic slave trade, it covered present-day international slavery. The Home Office was criticised this year for its slow response to 2004, the United Nations year for the commemoration of the struggle against international slavery.
David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool, said: 'It's all very well making announcements in October but the year started in January. It illustrates the apathy.'
Fleming said: 'There has been a national denial. When the British government declared the slave trade illegal [in 1807] it believed all issues were resolved.' He said all British governments have struggled with the idea of slave trade discussions, not only because of the uncomfortable nature of the subject, but because discussion would lead to an apology and to possible reparations.
But the seven Labour MPs and three opposition members who attended and spoke at the debate were all agreed on a need for a national recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity and a national slavery remembrance day.
In her speech, Mactaggart said: 'It might be a day, it might be ensuring using the bicentenary for something huge, it might be developing national curriculum materials that mean that teachers can feel confident teaching [the subject].' She added: 'By 2007, we should have a clear view of how the memorial will be made.'
Museums in Liverpool and Bristol are already making commitments for 2007. Fleming told Museums Journal that he is confident that a fundraising project will be successful for a new museum, with the working title the National Museum and Centre for the Understanding of Transatlantic Slavery.
It is hoped the £8.5m study and research centre, as well as incorporating the existing Against Human Dignity gallery at the Maritime Museum, will be ready by 2007.
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol is one of the partners in the Understanding Slavery project, a museums' initiative to create educational resources linked to the national curriculum.
Gareth Griffiths, the director of the museum, said: 'For 2007, we would want to enhance those materials and consider ways teachers can be assisted. There is a big training issue there.' Griffiths has also been invited by the DfES to submit a proposal to create a national resource to explore the colonial past and commonwealth history.
Ruth Dass, the head of cultural agency, Interculture, said: 'It is all very well to have a national memorial day. But we need to get to the deep-rooted issues of slavery and how Britain was able to afford the industrial advancements [it made]. The way to do it is through education and the national curriculum.'
But she warned that it is not only parts of the black community who feel isolated. 'It is also the educators. They feel they can't move forward because it's not their history. They don't have the knowledge base.'
Felicity Heywood
