I am a Brazilian citizen residing in the United Kingdom and currently in the process of applying for citizenship. Recently, I had to take the Life in the UK test, and in my opinion, it reflects the British society’s reluctance to confront and reconcile with its past (Ex-Tory MP threatens legal action against Cambridge University over slavery research, August 31).
As mentioned by Alex Renton in his article (Antoinette Sandbach’s relatives owned slaves – and so did mine. We need to make amends, September 1), this topic makes people uncomfortable, particularly white British individuals. However, by avoiding meaningful discussions about this issue, it only exacerbates the pain felt by those on the receiving end of the conversation.
During my test preparation, I was required to memorize the names of “illustrious” historical figures who actually supported and profited from slavery. I am compelled to learn about these individuals as British heroes, with no mention of the bloodshed and horrors inflicted upon the world.
Antoinette Sandbach is just the tip of the iceberg, and achieving a more equitable society cannot solely rely on her, or anyone else in a similar position, accepting and acknowledging their ancestors’ inhumane acts. The necessary change must occur at the foundational level, within parliament, schools, and the government, regardless of political party.
To this day, we witness the unfairness present in British society. I am tired of hearing average white Britons declare that “this country is not called Great Britain for no reason.” Perhaps it is time for them to recognize the great waves of terror and destruction that the country has propagated over the years.
Arthur Cunha
London
Alex Renton’s arguments advocating for guilt regarding the historical phenomenon of slavery are convoluted and irrational. Of course, we must condemn the atrocities that rank among the worst in human history. However, suggesting that contemporary Britons should bear guilt for wrongs committed 200 years before their birth, and then act upon that guilt through apologies or reparations, is morally inconsistent.
Unless one adheres to the Christian belief in original sin, the notion of inheriting moral responsibility is fundamentally flawed. Holding individuals, even to the slightest degree, accountable for what their ancestors may have done over ten generations ago is absurd.
Stephen Smith
Glasgow
It is worth noting that Antoinette Sandbach’s ancestor, Samuel Sandbach, and his two sons were not insignificant figures in the slave trade.
The records on the UCL Legacies of British Slavery database reveal their involvement in claims related to 5,082 enslaved individuals, valued at £268,225 12s 10d, which is equivalent to almost £28 million today.
Furthermore, the more Antoinette Sandbach tries to distance herself from her ancestors’ legacy in the slave trade, the more attention it attracts.
Stephanie Offer
Croydon, London
It is interesting to observe that the upper classes are usually happy to reap the benefits of their ancestors’ wealth and inherit their status, yet they often hesitate to shoulder any responsibility for the means by which that wealth and status were acquired.
Bill Bradbury
Bolton, Greater Manchester
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