A look at Britain’s historical complicity in the transatlantic slave trade, and how its legacy continues to fuel modern day slavery on our shores.
There is a growing recognition of Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, with numerous organisations, including universities and museums, acknowledging their historical complicity. A vital aspect of the decolonisation process involves sharing this challenging chapter of history and accepting responsibility. Specifically, Lloyd’s of London has taken a commendable step by establishing a £52 million fund dedicated to racial equality initiatives as part of reparative efforts.
While it is essential to acknowledge America’s central role in the slave trade, we must also recognise that other nations, particularly Britain, significantly facilitated and profited from the transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas. It is crucial to commemorate this painful history, which is why starting in 2008, the UN designated 25 March as an annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Unfortunately, the legacy of slavery persists today, as modern slavery continues to be a global issue, including in Britain.
The Past
The demand for slaves resulted from a growing need for cheap labour to work on plantations in the Americas. While ivory and gold attracted Europeans to West Africa, they soon saw another profitable “commodity” – people. And so, what is known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade began its sordid business. Through a system of three-way transatlantic exchanges – known historically as the triangular trade – which operated between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, the demand for cheap labour was met, and profits were made. During a period of approximately 1526 to 1867, over 12.5 million captured African men, women, and children were forcibly taken from their homes, transported in horrendous conditions, and sold into a life of indenture and cruelty. Over 10.7 million people were sold in the Americas. Britain, which became the world’s leading slave-trading country, transported about 3.4 million Africans across the Atlantic, making large profits for merchants in key ports such as London, Liverpool and Bristol and benefitting Britain’s economy.
It was not until the late eighteenth century that public opinion began to shift as more people became aware of the injustices associated with slavery. And so began what is considered one of Britain’s first lobbying movements, abolitionism – the action of abolishing a system, practice, or institution. Driven by former slaves, politicians and religious groups, the cause gathered momentum with political groups and petitions forcing the hand of the British government. African writers and activists such as Olaudah Equiano and Charles Ignatius Sancho spoke out against the slave trade and its inhumane treatment of Africans; high-profile figures such as William Wilberforce MP and Thomas Clarkson also used their influence to effect its abolition, while the Quakers led the way for religious groups in banning its members from owning slaves. (Actor and author, Patterson Joseph brings the life of Sancho to life in his novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho.) The impact of stories of lived experiences told by former slaves helped people see the realities of slavery and see it as an immoral practice. Hundreds of years later, organisations such as TogetherintheUK continue to work sharing the stories of refugees and migrants to help people gain a better understanding of the circumstances that force people to leave their home country. Despite the slave trade boosting the British economy, in 1807, Parliament finally passed the Act to Abolish the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Nonetheless, slavery carried on as before until, in 1833, Parliament passed the Emancipation Act. Even then, injustices were clear, as the government allocated £20 million in compensation to slave owners for their “property” across the Empire yet failed to offer any compensation or reparations to the former slaves.
Modern Day
You might be right in thinking that that should have brought about the end of slavery, even if just in Britain, but sadly, you would be wrong. Today, modern slavery is hidden in plain sight and present in every part of the UK. It encompasses various forms of exploitation where individuals are coerced, deceived, or forced into labour or services by others for personal or commercial gain. It can involve criminal activities such as cannabis farming, sexual exploitation, domestic services, or forced labour in construction, nail bars, car washes and many other daily activities that we take for granted. And just as African men, women and children were victims, today, men, women and children of all nationalities are still vulnerable and subject to exploitation.
While government figures state that over 12,000 exploited people were referred to the authorities in 2021, the actual number is much higher and rising each year. Walk Free, an international human rights group reports that the 2023 Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2021, 122,000 people were living in modern slavery in the UK. Many of these victims were trafficked from overseas, with their exploitation often beginning in their initial journey to the UK, but there are also many British victims. The common thread for these victims is their vulnerability. Whether refugees, migrants, or British nationals, as a result of external circumstances, maybe falling into debt, not having a valid visa or promises of the opportunity to provide for their families, victims find themselves forced into exploitative situations or forced labour. An example of forced labour is from the National Crime Association (NCA), which, as recently as February 2025, reported on the case of migrants forced to work in cannabis farms.In the TogetherintheUK anthology of writings on migration, Hear Our Stories, Frank, one of the writers, explains in his essay, The Hostel, how refugees or migrants can be bound to slavery in the UK out of respect for their elders.
In many cultures, elders are highly respected and cannot be questioned, and when they offer “help or a favour” to young travellers, it must be accepted, And so some travellers are promised good jobs and houses, but the reality is that they are kept in other people’s houses with no payment and no freedom. Many are treated as machines and expected to deliver the best and to live the life of a slave.
It can be difficult to identify victims of slavery but some typical signs to watch out for is when a service is too cheap, or the individual is wearing unsuitable clothes for the job or the weather, or they allow others to answer questions for them. In association with BT, Unseen, a UK charity that provides safe houses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery, has put together a video, Free the Unseen, which highlights aspects of modern-day slavery. They also launched the UK Modern Slavery and Exploitation helpline on 08000 121 700, so if you are concerned about someone or are a victim of slavery, please call them in complete confidence.
The transatlantic slave trade has left a terrible legacy with continuing racism and discrimination faced by Black people and an inequity of wealth across the world. Tragically, today modern slavery continues to shape the lives of millions of victims throughout the globe. Walk Free estimate that on any given day in 2021 there were over 50 million people worldwide victims of modern slavery, of which 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were in forced marriages. Yet, the plight of refugees and migrants is subjected to much criticism and negativity. On this UN Day of International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, it is time for reflection, education, and a call for action to end slavery once and for all.
To learn more about the transatlantic slave trade and abolition explore the following sites:
To read more about the lives and impacts of migrants on UK society, go to TogetherintheUK.
To purchase a copy of Hear Our Stories, An Anthology of Migrant Writings, compiled by TogetherintheUK, go to TogetherintheUK.
