The Slavery Business
 

BBC 2 last night put on one of their history drama documentary type programmes, I don't think it was a repeat. It was about Henry Lacelles one of those unscrupulous eighteenth century businessmen who made a considerable fortune out of slavery and who had to contend with a srupulous government inspector who couldn't be bought off. I thought it was very well done. I look forward to the day when an Arab TV station does something similar about the Arab slave trade which was equally obnoxious.

Well done BBC2.


The Slavery business

Re: The Slavery Business
 

well I'd sooner wait for hell to freeze over, its much more likely.

Re: The Slavery Business
 

It was very good, just reminded me of the things we have today that we have the slaves to be thankfull for, a disgusting buisness with dsgusting companies, including the likes of tate and lyle

Re: The Slavery Business
 

Painful. Problem is it is very complex, whilst it's true that British slavers,planters,businessmen made considerable wealth as did the financial institutions of the day, there were also many on mainland Europe who did nicely as well as US & Brazilian planters and businessmen. Likewise slavery was normal in Africa, African chiefs, kings and traders particulaly in the Niger Delta states were involved just as much in this dirty business.

Whilst clearly the capital raised may have fiinanced the industrial revolution which in turn with the rise of the middle class made the anti-slavery movement stronger and successful.

But again it's easy to forget that the Arab slave trade went on the longest and in West Africa was brutal in encouraging forced conversions to islam. But the Arab slave trade is rarely examined in the public media.

Re: The Slavery Business
 

I have just watched the programme and found it fascinating because in the course of my family history research I find that one of my relatives John Symes owned the Lyson Sugar Plantation in Kingston Jamaica in the late 1700's. This puts him right in the middle of the programme and I would like to find out more about him.I am hoping he was not like the Beckford family and treated his slaves well. Can you suggest some sources of information which might be useful as I have hit the usual brick wall.