Publisher's Synopsis
Liverpool and the Slave Trade - Descendants of American Slaves - Liverpool is unique. It has long addressed its dark past in relation to the Atlantic Slave Trade. This is now even more evident with the setting up of the International Museum of Slavery and recognition of all facets of the great cities involvement in what is now widely known, and deservedly so, as 'A Crime Against Humanity'. For many, apologies and open recognition of slavery and the devastating effects it had on the lives of those enslaved and their descendants over a period of 450 years, appears to be enough, and that this abhorrent chapter in our past should to now be consigned to the history books. But the Effects of Slavery Still Linger on. Reparations advocates agree, citing differences in prison populations, bias in the application of capital punishment, disparate childhood mortality rates, unequal access to education and health care, and other ongoing inequalities faced by Descendants of American Slaves in the United States. One of the main problems they face is that there is no special status that ties the devastation they suffered at the hand of America. The status of "African American" dilutes the impact of any aid that is allegedly for their benefit. Assistance that is proposed for the Descendants of American Slaves (DAS) is usually offered as aid to African Americans which includes all people of color who have immigrated willingly to the United States. Thus funding is diluted to the point where it becomes virtually ineffective to those it was initially intended to help. A designated status that clearly identifies Descendants of American Slaves as a specific group is critical to the process of repairing and making amends for the horrors that were perpetrated on the ancestors of this specific group. It is needed to address the deleterious impacts on this special group - Descendants of American Slaves. Reparation = Repair. Descendants of American Slaves are not looking for charity or individual payments. What they are seeking is assistance to help them out of an economic black hole through the creation of programs to train and educate towards a healthier future by partnering with other people and organizations to reach this goal in a totally 'inclusive for all' way. Proponents note that US wealth is not evenly or fairly distributed, and that the systematic exclusion of slaves' descendants from positions of political and economic power, though it may no longer be legally sanctioned, continues to haunt Americans. Racism continues to shape the lives of African-Americans and the Descendants of American Slaves, thus reparations must be directed toward repairing the damage inflicted by slavery and racism to the correct group of people. FACT: During the 18th century Liverpool was Britain's main slaving port. Between 1700 and 1807, ships from Liverpool carried about 1.5 million Africans across the Atlantic in conditions of great cruelty. FACT: The 'Liverpool Merchant' was the first recorded slave ship to sail from Liverpool. She set sail on 3 October 1699 and arrived in Barbados on 18 September 1700 with a cargo of 220 enslaved Africans. Part owner Sir Thomas Johnson is known as the 'founder of modern Liverpool'. FACT: By 1795 Liverpool controlled over 80% of the British and over 40% of the entire European slave trade. FACT: By 1750 Liverpool overtook Bristol and London in the slave trade and the import of sugar and rum. FACT: Over 5,000 slaving voyages started from Liverpool. FACT: Former Liverpool slave ship captain John Newton wrote the famous hymn 'Amazing Grace'. After his career at sea Newton became a reverend and an anti-slavery campaigner. FACT: At least 25 of Liverpool's lord mayors, holding office for a total of 35 years between 1700 and 1820, were closely involved in the slave trade.
