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Slavery compensation - justice delayed, justice denied?

Commonwealth leaders demand compensation for the slave trade. Is there a moral duty on the citizens of today to pay for the actions of their ancestors?

Is there a moral duty on the citizens of today to account for the actions of their ancestors and others, hundreds of years ago?
It's the question at the heart of a debate that has arisen again over reparations by the UK for its role in the transatlantic slave trade of the 18th and 19th centuries, and which made several Britons extremely wealthy.
We know that the ancestors of King Charles the third, the former prime minister David Cameron and the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt were directly involved deeply in the slave trade. One common ancestor to both the King and Mr Hunt was George Smith- who owned more than 230 slaves on plantations in Jamaica
The King has spoken in the past about the appalling atrocity of slavery. Mr Hunt has condemned racism throughout his political career, and praised the contribution of Black Britons.
Reparatory justice is being debated again because Commonwealth heads of government want to push the issue onto the agenda of a summit being held on the Pacific island of Samoa this weekend
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said there will be no apology and no reparations.
Presenter Audrey Carville in conversation with the author and playwright Bonnie Greer, Sir Geoff Palmer- human rights campaigner and Professor Emeritus at Heriot Watt university in Edinburgh, theologian the Reverend Dr Livingstone Thompson and research analyst and writer Dr Rakib Ehsan.

1 hour, 22 minutes

Last on

Sun 27 Oct 2024 08:30

Broadcast

  • Sun 27 Oct 2024 08:30