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Slavery reparations calls will not go away, David Cameron told Slavery reparations calls will not go away, David Cameron told
(about 1 hour later)
Black British activists have warned David Cameron that pressure to make reparations for slavery will no go away after the prime minister faced calls to make amends for Britain’s historic role in the trade before his trip to Jamaica. Black British activists have warned David Cameron that pressure to make reparations for slavery will no go away, after the prime minister faced calls to make amends for Britain’s historical role in the trade before his trip to Jamaica.
His arrival on the Caribbean island was overshadowed by letters in the Jamaican press, one describing him as “privileged and enriched by your forebears’ sins”, urging reparations.His arrival on the Caribbean island was overshadowed by letters in the Jamaican press, one describing him as “privileged and enriched by your forebears’ sins”, urging reparations.
With the threat of legal action by the Caricom reparations commission in the International Court of Justice, Cameron was told on Tuesday that his protestations that reparations or apologies for slavery are not the right approach are not good enough. With the threat of legal action by the Caricom reparations commission in the international court of justice, Cameron was told on Tuesday that his protestations that reparations or apologies for slavery are not the right approach are not good enough.
Fernne Brennan, the author of a forthcoming book on reparations and a senior lecturer at the law school at Essex University, said: “An apology is the first step. It [the lack of one] is a glaring omission. Quite clearly it’s something that needs to be addressed.Fernne Brennan, the author of a forthcoming book on reparations and a senior lecturer at the law school at Essex University, said: “An apology is the first step. It [the lack of one] is a glaring omission. Quite clearly it’s something that needs to be addressed.
“There is going to be more and more pressure on the state to apologise and engage in discussion for reparations because we are in the [UN] international decade for people of African descent.”“There is going to be more and more pressure on the state to apologise and engage in discussion for reparations because we are in the [UN] international decade for people of African descent.”
The international decade runs from this year and makes numerous references to slavery, calling on those “that have not yet expressed remorse or presented apologies to find some way to contribute to the restoration of the dignity of victims”. It also suggests memorial sites in countries that have profited from slavery and educating children about the trade.The international decade runs from this year and makes numerous references to slavery, calling on those “that have not yet expressed remorse or presented apologies to find some way to contribute to the restoration of the dignity of victims”. It also suggests memorial sites in countries that have profited from slavery and educating children about the trade.
Brennan said these are key elements of the reparations idea and often lost in the focus on money. She said: “Reparations stands for government action in terms of programmes to help people of African-Caribbean descent. A hymn that would acknowledge Britan’s involvement in the slave trade would be an example. People think you want to litigate so you can give blacks a bit of a good time and really that’s a bit of an insult.” Brennan said these are key elements of the reparations idea and are often lost in the focus on money. She said: “Reparations stands for government action in terms of programmes to help people of African-Caribbean descent. A hymn that would acknowledge Britan’s involvement in the slave trade would be an example. People think you want to litigate so you can give blacks a bit of a good time and really that’s a bit of an insult.”
In 2006, Tony Blair expressed his “deep sorrow” for slavery, months after the Church of England apologised for its role, but the prime minister stopped short of admitting historical guilt. The government’s reluctance to fully apologise is believed to stem from a fear that doing so could make it financially liable, but without saying sorry, campaigners have insisted they will not be satisfied.In 2006, Tony Blair expressed his “deep sorrow” for slavery, months after the Church of England apologised for its role, but the prime minister stopped short of admitting historical guilt. The government’s reluctance to fully apologise is believed to stem from a fear that doing so could make it financially liable, but without saying sorry, campaigners have insisted they will not be satisfied.
A pro-reparations demonstration from Brixton, which has a large African-Caribbean community, to Downing Street last month illustrated that many black Britons still feel strongly about the issue. Patrick Vernon, a political activist and the founder of Every Generation Media and 100 Great Black Britons, said: “We’d have to bankrupt Britain three times over to pay the money. Some people want money, some of it is about remembrance.A pro-reparations demonstration from Brixton, which has a large African-Caribbean community, to Downing Street last month illustrated that many black Britons still feel strongly about the issue. Patrick Vernon, a political activist and the founder of Every Generation Media and 100 Great Black Britons, said: “We’d have to bankrupt Britain three times over to pay the money. Some people want money, some of it is about remembrance.
“The UN has recognised that the legacy of enslavement still has [an] impact on people of African descent. There are inequalities around education, housing and criminal justice. It’s really complex, but there needs to be some acknowledgement that the past has an impact on today. To pretend it doesn’t is very naive and at worst, it doesn’t respect our history.“The UN has recognised that the legacy of enslavement still has [an] impact on people of African descent. There are inequalities around education, housing and criminal justice. It’s really complex, but there needs to be some acknowledgement that the past has an impact on today. To pretend it doesn’t is very naive and at worst, it doesn’t respect our history.
“There have been all sorts of apologies for all kinds of misdemeanours Britain has been involved in and this is the biggest one.” While Vernon said he was more interested in an apology, Lester Holloway from Operation Black Vote (OBV) said financial reparations were based on ever-more robust calculations. “There have been all sorts of apologies for all kinds of misdemeanours Britain has been involved in and this is the biggest one.” While Vernon said he was more interested in an apology, Lester Holloway from Operation Black Vote said financial reparations were based on ever-more robust calculations.
He wrote on the OBV website: “The longer Britain and other former slave trading nations delay, the more detailed the analysis will be, and the higher the notional value of compensation will be. Factors such as the compensation slave owners got on emancipation, inflation and interest, the ‘cost’ of emotional and generational damage, and the economic impact of racism, can all be added to the equation that at present is based on simpler calculus.”He wrote on the OBV website: “The longer Britain and other former slave trading nations delay, the more detailed the analysis will be, and the higher the notional value of compensation will be. Factors such as the compensation slave owners got on emancipation, inflation and interest, the ‘cost’ of emotional and generational damage, and the economic impact of racism, can all be added to the equation that at present is based on simpler calculus.”