Letter: Slavery's cruelty goes beyond colour
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Laura Zeller queries if the slave trade is discussed in British history lessons (letter, 29 July). Assuredly it is. It is part of European history that Greek civilisation was run on slavery - much of it white - as was the Roman Empire. British slaves existed in these islands under Roman rule for over three centuries; and many schoolchildren know the story of St Augustine referring to blond slave boys in Rome as Angels - not Angles.
Here in the fishing town of Looe, Cornish children know that in 1625, 80 Looe men were taken into slavery by Moroccan raiders, and in 1634 another hundred were captured. Other Cornish harbours suffered similarly. Naturally, our children learn of the infamous British role in shipping countless black slaves - captured by African slave masters - to America, and of the life's work of William Wilberforce to abolish that appalling trade. Hopefully, American discussion of the worldwide evil of slavery is also 'fully rounded' to include the misery of all slaves - black and white.
Yours sincerely,
EVE LANGFORD
Looe,
Cornwall
30 July
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments