Has the Caribbean moved on from slavery?

It has been estimated that between the 15th and 19th centuries up to 15 million people were abducted and forcibly transported from Africa to the Caribbean.

Once in the Caribbean, they were forced to toil on plantations and in households.

BBC Caribbean marked the occasion with a series of interactive specials looking at the legacy of slavery.

You can listen again here and continue to have your say online.

BBC Caribbean special on the legacy of slavery (broadcast March 27)

Caribbean audiences join Africa Have your say (broadcast March 22)

BBC Caribbean links up with BBC Bristol (broadcast March 23)

I am white. I am also a descendant of slaves, emancipated in the 1700's. Do I get an apology too, or am I discriminated against because over the generations my skin has been genetically determined by intermarriage with white people?
Ruth
Glasgow,UK

The knowledge that my distant relatives suffered at the time of legal slavery, worries me greatly. I was born in England of Caribbean parentage. I would love to trace my family tree but hesitate when I realise that would mean I may come face to face with what happened to my relatives. This frightens me. We need an apology for this abomination!
Brenda
London, England

We do not need an apology because I believe slavery is continuing in a disguised way. It is institutionalised and legitimised. That way you will not see it with the naked eyes. We do not need an apology and we do not need any kind of repayment out. All we need is real not fake recognition and equal treatment regardless of origin. Our ancestors contributed to the wealth enjoyed by the wealthy countries.
Just look at the policies and laws carefully and how they affect the ancestors of slaves.
Muwanga

I believe this isn't about slavery - this is more about colonialism - that is the ill here. The lands are free/independent - but the minds are still colonized.
E Johnson
Toronto, Canada

Nice forum with a much balanced atmosphere.
My point: An apology can mean little, but if you don't acknowledge the past, you are doomed to repeat your mistakes in the future. Many of those who simply CANNOT find it in their heart to acknowledge the problems of the past, are (because of this myopia) part of the problem now and in the future.
(Kimberly from St Lucia - fantastic post. Sums it all up. G)
Anthony
London, UK

Being a Jamaican-American, I found out that most African-American don't have a sense of who they are and where they come from.
I've come to adopt America as my home but I still consider Jamaica as the mother land, even though I know that Africa is the true matriarch for all mankind.
Jonathan Saunders
Minneapolis, USA

As a proud African Jamaican I am not going to ask for an apology, for it means nothing if the giver doesn't mean it - which they wouldn't. But it should be acknowledged that Britain, though not the only Euro power in the African Slave Trade, became the richest and they did that for hundreds of years from the blood, sweat, tears, torture of generations of Africans. The very fact that slavery still continues to this day is because we've never reconciled the past and admitted that it was wrong - plain and simple. Instead we get "oh African's did it to their own" or " the British set them free". My ancestors fought for their freedom and I will never forget them or our African legacy which began long before the European enslaved us. Forget reparations - allow African, South American and Caribbean countries to trade fairly and cancel all debt. And for those who say move on and look to the future - will our great great grandchildren be asked to apologise for our inaction right now??? Its still continuing and no-one is doing anything about it.
Erica
London, UK

Was is wrong yes? Yes it was. But it was legal, they even justified it at the time for trade purposes. When it was stopped the traders were compensated, and the victims of the hideous trade got nothing, not even a dime. If they are resisting the idea of compensation, it's because they know fully well what the outcome would be. There would
probably not be enough money for compensation. Over 400 years of slavery did not result just in loss of opportunities which dearly impacts on the diaspora today. The way I see it is that they will not give in because it is not in their interests.
Seca Maconanco
London, UK

As a person whose ancestors were both slaveholders and slaves, I am grateful to both. But to go around moping about the sins of one people against the sins of another is, in a word, ridiculous. Slavery existed in Africa for thousands of years before Europeans ventured into Africa. And slavery still exists in many areas on the continent. To blame slavery for the economic problems of current economies is a knee-jerk reaction that holds no water and lacks the intelligence and willingness to face and deal with the causes of those problems. And Britain's wealth was not based solely on slavery. Reparations mean nothing and do nothing to erase history as history played itself out. The descendants of slave-owners are in no way guilty for what was done. New nations were born out of what history allowed to happen. Slavery has been long dealt with. Move on.
Nigel
Baltimore, MD, USA

At the end of the day, it is so stupid that white people would say I have nothing to feel sorry for. Really you don’t but the wealth they accumulated was off the back of slavery. For the people like myself born of African slave descendant, the mentally of slavery lingers in the air. We carry the white man’s name to this day. That goes to show that the Caribbean is still enslaved.
Wise up. Understand your history yourself. Change your last name from the white man’s – only then you can move forward when you find yourself.
Ira R
(Perhaps Ira should change his name to something more...African perhaps ed.)

Slavery was a very wicked activity that was carried out by the white race in an attempt to earn riches. It has also caused Africa to be in the state that is in today.
Peter Nelson
Morant Bay, Jamaica

I believe that reparations should not be about monetary compensation at all. Our blood sweat & tears are worth much more than money. Instead, it should include issues such as infrastructure maintenance and educational support for as long as slavery lasted. Not to mention debt relief. For after all these islands were not designed to be self-sustaining entities. Another important issue would be the freedom to choose & use new political systems, unlike the Westminster parliamentary ones handed down to us. That system based on the concept of individualism is at the heart of the inability of our people to properly unite & govern ourselves, since our traditional governance was based upon collective order.
Larry Whyte
Kingston, Jamaica

Those countries which have profited from the labour and toil of African slaves and which have businesses that survive up to today should be given and be maintained by a Black committee and the profits dispersed back to Africa and the Caribbean. Let us claim back what is rightfully ours,(we got no pay and it's payback time)at least this will ease off some of the pain.
Wenn Desir
Castries, St. Lucia

My ancestor's were slaves too! Stolen from Ireland & taken to the Barbary Coast(between 1530 & 1780). Do you think I'll get an apology? And what about those who were also sent to the Caribbean as slaves in 1655 after rising up against Cromwell after their land was stolen. Who should apologise for that? Let's not miss the point here: Let's help the people around the world who are in slavery now. You can't change the past, only the future.
Stephanie
Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

Freedom is not free, it has never been. Our price was changed – we are not the same people that we were before slavery, we are a different people in the consciousness of the world. Slavery dug deep and planted seeds that have blossomed beyond abolition into a social construction that dealt race and inferiority as our lot. But our fate is not sealed, I believe we have the capacity for change, for us to dig deep and construct our truths into our societies.
Kimberly Louis
Castries, St Lucia

I am a person of slave descent born in England of Jamaican parents. It does not particularly bother me if England or former slavers apologise. I think that it is a sad day when I have to say to my husband “tell me that you love me”. It should come from his heart. To be quite frank – I think that the apology can seem to say that me and millions like me are a ‘mistake’ – when we are quite clearly not. This view does not in anyway exonerate those who inflicted despicable harm on our African ancestors, or justify slavery as a deplorable means to economic power, but I do think at some point, like other stories told of peoples across the world – we can see the hand of history. What people in the world need to know is how a practice and supporting policies resulted in the creation of whole new nations through the process of forced and enslaved labour.
What we as a people need to do now, is try to look less to the white man to affirm ourselves, and spend our energies building up strong families and a strong economic base. I have been to several countries in Africa and there is much potential to develop business, economic and physical infrastructure. If we really want to move foreword, there is a whole continent awaiting our return in kind.
Dena Casey
London, England

To Stanley Dellimore, London.
You took the words out of my mouth.
Keep the faith.
Ricardo
London, UK

I agree whole-heartedly with Stanley Dellimore. 30-40 years of near freedom does not cleanse the mind of 500 years of bondage'. Neither does it rid others of 500 years of notions of superiority. Today we have people who long to be a lighter shade, we have people who believe their skin colour somehow sets them apart from other sections of humanity. We have parts of the Caribbean and elsewhere where the lighter you are, the better you are. We have older black people in the UK who truly believed England to be their mother country. Racism was created to justify slavery. There are negative associations with the term 'black' versus the positive ones with the term 'white'. We all know about Wilberforce, what about Equiano? The list goes on. These are all the legacies of slavery. Monetary reparations will not solve these problems that exist today. There needs to be a re-education of all our children about world history and the sins and achievements of all sections of mankind!
Only then can we unite as one human 'race'. And it probably will take another 500 years for us all to be truly free.
S Cooke
London, England

Massa day done.
E. Johnson
Toronto, Canada

Yes, there is a section of our society who is fighting to keep us shackled so the move on is limited!
Montgomery Howard
Upper Cane Hall, St Vincent & the Grenadines

They have freed our hands and feet but have sought to shackle our minds and spirituality. More can and should be done where reparations and repatriations are concerned. Here in the Caribbean it seems as if it is only the Ras Tafari who carry the mantle in terms of rallying for these causes. More prominent people in society need to seek to educate and develop the mentality of the masses of the true history of our past. As the Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey puts it, " A people without a knowledge of their past it is like a tree without roots. We need to be taught African Glory (History) before slavery to our people so we can truly appreciate who we really are and were before the vicious act of slavery.
Yahsonn Tafari
Nevis

It is my opinion that Black People should be compensated the same way that Jewish People got compensated.
David Ravalier
The Mornre, St.Joseph, Dominica

Yes, reparation.
Donovan Chin
Bronx, New York USA

It is not fair to say that those who enslaved us have died so we should forget about what was done. We have inherited the painful, negative effects of slavery, while many of the descendants of those who have enslaved us are benefiting tremendously.
Rondell Grant
Cudjoe Head, Montserrat

The effects of slavery still linger. You can see this on any day of the week if you visit my school. Sometimes, because of my lighter skin colour, I hear comments like, "The teachers like you better because you're white." Even if these comments are jests, they reveal the underlying belief that the lighter your skin colour the easier it is to move ahead. During slavery the fairer slaves worked in the great house, the darker ones in the field. Everybody wanted to work in the house.
Jamie
Kingston, Jamaica

Where I live in the French Caribbean, the people are still dominated by a white father from France who heads everything in this Country.
Clayton Florent
Baie Mahault, Guadeloupe

Yes, we are still shackled, and that is why people like Marcus Garvey, and the Rastafari movement have come from Jamaica, because they see where the masses have been wrong and are still living this illusion of freedom. The Jews cried every day and they were compensated.
Ryan Shawn Simmonds
Kingston, Jamaica

Slavery was designed to deliberately rob black peoples of their psychological, economical and spiritual legacies. This is still continuing psychologically through the tourism industry which essentially demands that we smile and serve mainly the former colonialists. They take the prime properties of the region and places them in the hands of the colonialists and teach us about a white GOD that again places us in a position that allows us to depend again on the "white" man for our salvation. Indeed even our history has been written for us.
Lucius Doxerie
Castries
St Lucia

I do believe that slavery is "done wid" in the Caribbean. Many Caribbean people never think about the effects of slavery on our everyday lives. That being said, is an unsolved murder ever forgotten? It is essential that all the countries and organisations which were involved in the murder of African people during slavery should apologise for the acts of stealing humans and trafficking human cargo and forcing labour on other human beings. As long as those countries and entities exist what was done for their benefit is their responsibility.
For present day Afro-people receiving an apology would mean a lot. Why is it so difficult for the apologies to be made?
Claire
Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis

One of the ways they can start compensating some of Caribbean countries, is for the IMF, World Bank and others to start forgiving the debts these country owed to them.
Mervin
St. Kitts & Nevis

Whereas it will not change anything that has been done, an apology will not cost the British or any other European nation a cent nor dent their pride. I therefore cannot understand why it’s difficult to get one from the British. As for compensation, that's another story. How and who will be paid is a headache because we all are descendants of slaves in the Caribbean.
Glenford St.Jean
Roseau, Dominica

There should be compensation. Billions are being spent even today to satisfy their power & greed while we remain poor.
Leno
Dominica

Why should the British or Brootish government apologise for something which was done years ago by people who are long since dead themselves? If my great grandfather had been a robber should I be made to apologise to the descendants of his victims?
Should I be asked to pay them some sort of remuneration for their suffering?
Edward Harper
London, England

As a white American who has lived and travelled in the Caribbean for many years I can say that slavery is not over until its effects no longer exist and that is most certainly not the case. However, one must question what the people themselves are doing to rectify the situation. There are gross abuses of power by the government who are more concerned about lining their own pockets rather than ensuring a complete and up to date education for their children which might allow them to compete on a world stage. Slavery in any form is an unforgivable transgression against humanity. However, what many current Caribbean governments are doing is in its own form another means of keeping its own people as slaves.
Faye Kirkbridge
Chicago, USA

The political & liberal "elite" should confine themselves to problems of today. There was slavery long before the British arrived. There are still millions of slaves (but not in Britain) now. Why should we apologise for something we had no part in? As for W.D. (Ottawa) & the assumption that the British are responsible for the current woes of Africa, it's insulting beyond belief. Since they asked us to leave, they have "voted" in a succession of at best corrupt dictators to rule them back into the Stone Age, still they are free of Imperial Tyranny eh!!!
Roy
Lancs. England

We are a people scarred by slavery. We are descendants of slavery, robbed of our names, families personalities and history. How can one say that we no longer feel the effects of slavery when we cannot find our forefathers because they were given the names of their owners?
How can you say that the descendants of the slave owners are not responsible, when the wealth that was earned from our lands was invested in your country and led to the demise of ours? Caribbean people are not waiting on handouts we are waiting on our story to be told.
Leshana Campbell
Kingston, Jamaica

In my opinion slavery, drudgery and exploitation is still obviously evident today. The fact that we're not given decent employment and usually have to be overqualified for the jobs we do actually get is appalling, outrageous and scandalous. It's quite offensive to black people, especially now we're in 2007. It's absolutely disgraceful.!
We need many more Nanny Maroon warriors in my view.
Raymond Clarke
Catford, London, England

As a descendant of the Africans who were enslaved in the Caribbean, I do believe that the Archbishop of York, as a leading member of the Church of England should give an apology on behalf of the Africans who sold my ancestors into slavery. The President of Ghana who chairs the African Union should also apologise on behalf of the West African nations who were well rewarded in selling their fellow human beings into this appalling bondage.
Dorrette McAuslan
Leamington Spa, England

Out of Many One People, that’s what’s it like in most of the Caribbean. It would be hard to find many pure African descendants in most of the Western Hemisphere anyway. Also with all the problems in Africa, why would they want to go back? We are better then that now, every one needs to learn from mistakes and look forward not backward. You are not imprisoned by your circumstances.
Dane
Seattle, USA

Yes, the Caribbean is still well shackled by slavery. If you look closely it can be seen everywhere. Indeed 1838 ended slavery in the British Caribbean but a society for Black people was never formed. The freed Blacks had to forge their own path. While slavery ended legally Blacks were never given the chance to be fully integrated into the society.
What most individuals refused to understand is England profited greatly from Slavery and the Slave Trade. The profit was so great that they were able to move into industrialization with much ease. I am fully aware that Africans participated in the trade but what some historians failed to indicate is that the Africans who participated in the trade were not aware of the harsh treatment their brothers and sister received.
Vaughan Woodley
Sandy Point, St. Kitts

To say the UK's wealth was built on slavery is stupid. The British Empire was huge and its wealth came from many areas not just slaves! Why should we be forced to give an apology for something that was carried out years ago by many countries? The simple fact is that once in history it was acceptable and now it is not. Let’s not forget that Africa has been given billions upon billions of pounds in order to help its people with starvation and drought, If we were to go back through history and pick out all the terrible things that happened, trying to hold modern day people accountable, where would it end? The holy wars killed far more people than slavery ever will! The church and religion have caused more deaths than slavery throughout history. It’s been 200 years. There is not a living slave of that trade to apologies too.
John Banks
London, England

Britain has recognised the shame and horror of what happened during the slavery years. The present population can't apologise for the actions of the culprits no more than they can go back in to the past and change them. Just like holding the present German nation responsible for the abhorrent actions of the Nazis during the holocaust is erroneous, these despicable acts are there to be learned from, not forgotten or held against ordinary people who had no connection to it whatsoever.
Wiliam Butler
Glasgow, Scotland

Absolutely NOT!
There is not a single person in the UK today who was alive during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and therefore there is not a single living person who is responsible for it. I personally refuse to take any responsibility for something which happened hundreds of years before I was born and this same principle should be applied at every level.
For someone to genuinely apologise for anything they have to feel guilt. I feel it is unreasonable and indeed cruel to expect people to feel guilty for something they had no control over, namely where they were born and who to.
John Ortt
Burscough, England

Britain has recognised the shame and horror of what happened during the slavery years. The present population can't apologise for the actions of the culprits no more than they can go back in to the past and change them. Just like holding the present German nation responsible for the abhorrent actions of the Nazi's during the holocaust is erroneous, these despicable acts are there to be learned from, not forgotten or held against ordinary people who had no connection to it whatsoever.
William Butler
Glasgow, Scotland

Whilst it is right to feel sorrow for the effects on the descendents of victims of slavery, I think we shouldn't forget that some descendents of perpetrators of slavery might also feel to be victims. of a sort themselves
Seamus McTavish
Farnborough, England

200 years have past since the abolition of slavery. If an apology meant this much why have we not made one since the act? It seems to me something born from the perpetual need to be politically correct in today’s society. It is understood that it was a twisted use of life for the benefit of others but the people we really should have apologised to have passed away a long time ago. It doesn’t mean we have forgotten, it just doesn’t warrant an apology from the generations of today.
M Tunley
Liverpool, UK

I am upset by this re-capping of history that really has nothing to do with the modern Africans. I am part Polish, and I never hear any of them complaining about the death camps or war. These are events that at least happened in the last 100 years. These people really need to get a grip on reality. The sad part is that our government will probably bend to there demands.
MacDonald
Oklahoma City, USA

Everyone agrees that slavery was a terrible thing, but one must remember that this took place in a very different world than today’s. The call for reparations is out of the question as nobody is alive today who had any dealings in the slave trade. Perhaps we in Britain can clain compensation from the Italian government for the Roman invasion as the Romans enslaved the native Britons.
Stop blaming everyone else for your own failings.
Frederick Bird
Crickhowll, UK

This is the most stupid thing I have ever heard!
Why should we apologise for something our ancestors did? We didn’t do it, did we? I really don’t see why they are claiming compensation for this, what has the world come to? Step back, take a breather. Take a look at the stupidity of this! They say it’s in their blood, the heartache, passed on through DNA. I think it’s in their mind. Don't you?
Emma,
Bham, England

Yes, we are still mentally shackled by slavery. Skin colour for one between different black people and how many people wanting to leave the Caribbean, to live in USA or UK as they see better opportunities it’s sad to see. We can't blame slavery for everything but it has lot to do how we see ourselves today in society.
Norman Augustus
Nottingham, United Kingdom

It is too late for an apology, and would be as meaningful as asking the French to apologise for invading us in 1066! All the demanding of apologies and reparations does is feed the fire in the bellies of the small minded racists who still exist today. It is surely time to put the past behind us and start making the world as it is a better place, stop living in the past complaining about your ancestors, and do something about the future for your children!
Drew Pratten
Surbiton, England

I have been to the Caribbean a few times including a few months working there. The slave trade may have ended but slavery has not. I think it is very convenient to keep the local people there low paid. They are a convenient source of cheap labour for us when we go on holiday to some of the islands. But the wages are so low that there is little prospect of many of the black people living there ever being able to go abroad on holiday themselves. The education system is basic and many of the health facilities have to be paid for, thus out of the reach of many people. There are no adequate pensions for many people who have worked long and hard all their lives. I think some of the islands feel betrayed that the British have effectively walked away from them leaving the Americans to do as they wish with the islands which often means that the interests of the US are paramount regardless of the interests of the local people, trade being one area where subsidised American goods are imported to the detriment of the islands.
If we are really sorry for the slave trade which we benefitted from so hugely, then we should start putting in funding for proper education, health and welfare facilities for all and look at the poverty in the Caribbean as well as Africa.
Mary Terry
Bristol,UK

NO NOT Quite!! There are no shackles but mentally, there may still be many issues. I believe we should not harp on what took place so much during slavery, the events and the horrors. But we need to study the effects of slavery on the Black Man. Has the effect of slavery trickled down to the modern black man. How has this affected him seeing that during slavery, his dignity, social standing, and psychological ability were striped away from them? At the abolishment of slavery there was a sense of joy and happiness, are we still celebrating up to today after 200 years. What are the real effects? What are the negatives and most important what are the positive after slavery was abolished some 200 years ago. What must now be done to turn all negative to positive? This I believe will truly benefit the descendants of African slaves.
Peters
Morvant,Trinidad

We can never "done with that" - that would be a denial of the of the past and of history! History cannot be abolished!
Robert Witter
London, UK

I have to agree with Kimani Goddard and say yes the St. Lucian society has moved on. Our past is not holding us back from becoming one of the top rating business and tourist destinations. I have to disagree with Earl from Trinidad and say that we are people full of history…you see it everyday, you hear it in the languages we speak and the stories of our forefathers. Our future is bright, with organizations like OECS and CARICOM, bringing us together, giving us a stronger voice.
A.I
St. Lucia

True, the African was complicit in the slave trade and Britain was not the only country de humanising black people. However, the British are quick to tell other countries to apologise and pay reparations, it is time they do the same. The reason why Britain is one of the four top economic countries is because their wealth and power is built on the back of the black man. It was true then and is still true today.
The Slave masters were compensated some £1billion in today’s money, If the British government was to pay reparations they would be bankrupt.
Racism, poverty, lack of self esteem are all consequences of slavery, it will take a few more generations before the black man is totally free of the shackles. After all 30-40 years of near freedom does not cleanse the mind of 500 years of bondage
Stanley Dellimore
London

I'm not at all surprised by some of the dismissive opinions expressed here. I suspect mainly by authoritarian, bigoted narrow-minded types.
My concerns are within the UK, thus, I'm not interested in what other country's intentions might be. However, an apology will not be enough for me. My forgiveness would have to be bought and only the currency of the day will do. Sterling compensation should have been compulsory and is long overdue.
C-claiming
O-on
F-for my
F-forefathers
E-efforts by
R-rights of
S-services
Stella Akeba
Solihull, England

I refer to the comment posted by Alexandra Rees about the 'easy cop out' of slavery. There is nothing easy about enduring years of torture, disenfranchisement and dehumanisation, for both men and women. And to take a singular comment and make such a sweeping generalisation of a region as diverse as the Caribbean, speaks to the sort of parochial (narrow) mindset that justified the institution of slavery in the first place. When we speak we really ought to examine the positions from which we speak.
Debra
Kingstown, St. Vincent

I would say by and large we have moved on and become our own people with our own identity, no matter how diluted it may be perceived after 300+ years it has become "we ting".
However, I'm ticked off by people on this side of the Atlantic's confusion between the end of the slavery and the slave trade act.
Noelle
London, UK

I agree an apology is in order. But it's surely arrogant to suggest that we shouldn't get one for the Norman Conquest from the French, the Scandinavians for numerous Viking massacres, the Roman invasion and use of Britons as slaves to build the Roman empire. Where should it end?
Chris
London, England

It’s interesting to note the comments from different countries and even the countries which consider themselves observers to the entire process and effect of slavery. What we must remember however is that the impact of slavery is just as varied as is the people within the Caribbean region. In other words, the impact that slavery had and still has varies from country to country, but obviously there exist some underlining similarities.
From an economic standpoint the effects of slavery still has an affect on us, of which it took us over 200 years to begin to overcome. Yet we still have a long road to travel.
Kyle
Glen, St Vincent and the Grenadines

I refer to the comment by Nicole from Barbados and rest my case. Her observations conclusively prove we are a lost people, no sense of history, no vision for the future.
Earl
Trinidad

Allow me to first say that I couldn’t help but be feel a sense of heart ache and remorse when I saw the picture positioned to the left of the field boxes and what a dreadful story it portrays and the false image it transmits to victims of black slavery.
Perhaps for me the worst thing about Black slavery which is quite evident is the division it has created between our women and our men. According to history this probably came about as the earlier was assigned to the Masters house while the later to the fields.
This separation was further compounded as they became his concubines and bears his children and as a result our women assumed the position as Misses of the plantation thus leaving us all alone in a white world even up to today. There was no escaping for those unfortunate ones who toiled the fields as there were made concubines as time past to replenish the stock.
For the sake of the critics who might find this a bit unpleasant, let’s take a look at the other races, for example the Indians and Chinese they to endured slavery but look their women stood by their sides through the years with the utmost sense of pride, support and not to mentioned togetherness. This is not to saying to suggest perfection. But harmony!
Let’s face it brothers and sisters, the same harmony could once again be restored for us and the separation mended
James Ingram
St. Georges, Grenada

We are sill bound by the shackles of slavery and it is around us everday in all kind of different forms. We fail to educate our children and their children of what it was like back in the 50s to 60s where black people had to sit in the back of Restaurants and ride in the back of buses and where there were toilets for white people and toilets for black people. I live in a small country where it is very expensive for a small man to purchase a piece of land and it is easier for a white man to purchase that same piece of land at a cheaper price than for a black man to get a loan in a Bank.
So I believe personally that slavery would never be abolished and it would outlive us and for whatever reason black people would always be enslaved.
Richard Clarke
Bridgetown, Barbados

I've just returned from a trip in the Caribbean- not my first and certainly not my last. In Jamaica, I got talking to a 20-something woman about Jamaican men. Discussing the 'Rent-a-Dred' issue of white women paying black men for sex, she rolled her eyes and said 'dey welcome to dem.' She believed that black men blame an invisible apartheid on their inability to succeed in life; but it's really their laziness and pride holding them back. I've heard the same from other women in other islands about their men. It's an easy cop-out to keep blaming slavery for the maladies affecting Caribbean society today.
Alexandra Rees
London, UK

If we look at the history of human kind, every culture went through a period of slavery. Like the Mayans were to the Spanish Conquistadors, Britons to Romans, Africans to the British et al. It's up to us to move forward and live in peace and harmony among our multicultural societies.
Edith,
Belmopan, Belize

The slave mentality is still alive. We are not quick to help each other. It is so much easier to tear down one another than empower each other with what we know and what we have. We are selfish...we revel in "lesser developed" country and "more developed country"...when will we ever move on...
Deborah Gage
Mississauga, Canada

Contemporary Caribbean society is still shackled by slavery. And by slavery I am referring to the entire spectrum, from the enslavement and ultimately near genocide of the native peoples, to the enslavement of Africans, to the indentureship era, when our Indian and Chinese brothers and sisters were robbed of their freedom by European profiteers. This can be seen at all levels of contemporary Caribbean social strata. The white majority still controls vast amounts of our limited natural resources. In fact, in some territories, racism is so acute that it is widely accepted that blacks are not allowed to hold certain positions. To this day there is great friction between the Indians and blacks in Trinidad and Guyana. Though there has been integration, most races still keep to themselves, especially in the larger territories. The very forces and institutions that held us together under the colonial era, which grew out of slavery, are still the only forces which identify us. To this day we are still struggling to find common ground upon which to unite.
Osmal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

I am born and bred in the Caribbean and am totally fed up with the constant debate on slavery and its effects. If West Indians are content to use slavery as an excuse for not moving forward, then they will remain in a perpetual morass and continue to find excuses for failure, and never fulfill their true potential. It happened, move on! Black Africans were not the only people enslaved. We are now citizens of the Caribbean with a British and African heritage in most islands to which has been added Indian and Chinese in others. So we are multicultural and should focus on the positive aspects of our rich heritage and use that to build positive and peaceful societies. Take the best of each aspect of our heritage and build. Let us do as Bob Marley suggested and emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. Stop looking to blame others for our failure and move on.
Nicole
Bridgetown, Barbados

Yes, the Caribbean is still shackled by slavery. This perceived independence hides the insatiable need to be accepted or recognised by their former colonial masters. In the Caribbean your intelligence and success is defined on how quick you can mimick your former masters. Colonial culture or thinking is still of big import. In islands where Creole is spoken they are told it is not a language: only the queen's language and accent is "standard" or more relevant. Many Caribbean islands have little confidence in their potential, while others are seduced into thinking they are better than others. Despite the inferiority complex in the islands, I am very happy to be an export from the United States of Africa.
Chris
New York

Surely a more interesting would be "Has Britain come to terms with its role in slavery and the racist thinking which underpinned it?" For those of us from the Caribbean to prematurely forget slavery, or indulge in easy moralizing about the European's barbarity, may perpetuate continued injustices. The Caribbean shares a proud history of resistance with the colonized people of Asia and Africa. Celebrating our common humanity and freedom can surely only be a positive thing to aspire to.
Richard
London, UK

We nah done wid dat.
Slavery in effect did not end until 1917 in the Caribbean.
It was abolished in 3 stages.
Firstly in 1807 the Slave trade was abolished not Slavery itself.
African Slavery continued until 1834 when the African Slaves were emancipated but they then had to complete a 4 year Apprenticeship until 1838 when they became fully free.
Then in 1838 a new system of Slavery started which wasn't any less evil as the first system.
This was called the Indentured system whereby hundreds of thousands of Indians and smaller numbers of Chinese and Europeans were brought to the Caribbean to do the work once done by the African Slaves.
The conditions were the same and many perished from being worked to death or from diseases, all in order to meet the high demand for Sugar.
This system continued until 1917 when it was finally abolished after the abolition work of Mohandas Gandhi.
This is one area of History that is mainly forgotten about but should not be as it is also part of the Legacy of Slavery.
Jon Budhram
Surrey, England

I think this slavery thing is enough for now. The damage is already done…and if we were in the same period nothing would have done differently we black people would still be slaves. So all this apology and public display is of no effect because even now slavery is still taking place.
Melvin Guye
Roseau, Dominica

It seems that we're still suffering from some social and psychological problems because of slavery. One only needs to look at the racial lines in the social systems across the region and the willingness of many young people to pick up the African American chip-on-the-shoulder to see this (not that we'd be perfect without American influences). Another sign of this, though it's harder to see, is the trouble that many West Indian intellectuals seem to have with accepting the truth of their white heritage (where applicable) and the good of the European mark on our identity, culture and institutions.
Kamal
Dauphine, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Though Tony Blair may be well intentioned, I cannot accept his statement as being representative of the British population...after all they still treat Blacks and others like 5th class sub humans...take a look at the Indian movie star the other day.
When I look and I see the degree of poverty and desperation around me here in Kingston (Jamaica) I just want to die…people with bleached faces and low self perception, a parent making her dark skinned daughter do all the work and the light skinned one go to school all the way to University. I find myself in great agony and all that comes to mind is Britain’s need to repay us as best as is possible at this time.
Tyrone Hall
Kingston, Jamaica

True liberation of the African race will never be a reality and that is because of the origins of the slave society perpetuated in today’s modern day living. The mental transformation and healing will take many generations to come to remove the scars of oppression.
Henry Saunders
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Slavery is economics. It is a mean of acquiring wealth on the backs of black people. Today slavery is spread to what is called, third world countries. Just this morning one can read that the IADB is forgiving the deaths to Guiana among a number of smaller Islands. These countries are already ruined.
Neville Neehall
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands

It is amazing that the focus on the abolition of the slave trade and consequently slavery itself, pays little or no attention to the efforts of the enslaved Africans at bringing about their own liberation. There were many acts of resistance throughout the Caribbean, initiated by the enslaved themselves, which were just as instrumental in bringing about the end of slavery. In celebrating this act of parliament, it seems that many are focussing on the 'benevolence'of the British parliament at the time, and forgetting that the enslaved were always rebelling against what they had long recognised was an abominable institution.
Debra
Kingstown, St. Vincent

Is the Caribbean still shackled or not by Slavery is not the issue but rather what the slave trade and slavery has done to Africa and the Americas. The psychological effects are still there in many negative manifestation- gross inferiority complex being the major, not trusting persons of the same colour, loss of our spirituality, lost of our language and all that language supports.
Let us move on as a people (all inclusive) but not forgetting our past as we forge a strong future.
Marlon
Paul's Avenue
St Vincent and the Grenadines

The numbers affected by slavery were well over the 15 million quoted. We must not forget those who didn't survive the middle passage and the destruction of the African continent. It angers me that people cling to this notion that we sold each other into slavery because the numbers just don't add up. The legacy of slavery has impacted on the languages we speak, the food we eat, even our genetic make-up. We must never forget the effects of slavery. Try asking the Jews to forget the holocaust and "move on."
A King
London

How might one determine whether the Caribbean is still shackled by slavery or not? In my opinion, because the physical aspect of slavery has been abolished, one has to examine the psychological aspect of slavery in order to determine this. I have never been more discriminated against and interrogated by any other airport personnel than in my own Caribbean region.
I have heard my own people with the same African black skin colour as mine telling another that anything too black is not good. What can be more demeaning and damning to a person's self-esteem than a comment like that?
This is undoubtedly remnants of Colonial brainwashing, where slaves with a fairer skin complexion were given special privileges while those with darker complexion were treated as animals. If the Caribbean is going to break the shackle of mental slavery, then kids need to be taught their ancestral cultures in Africa and the terrible colonial brain wash which took place during colonialism and the slave trade. Like the great Bob Marley said, Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.
Kevinton Lewis
Spanish Town
Jamaica

Slavery, well it has never affected me in any manner nor my family. Even though slavery was abolished 200 years ago, some people still think it exists, but I differ, because nowadays it is just a state of mind. Instead of reflecting upon the past, we should all move on enthusiastically. The past is the past, and the present is the present. So if we consider ourselves slaves we will always be slaves. Let´s live in one love, one unity and one peace and the world will be a better place.
Colin Anthony Alexander
Georgetown, Guyana

I'm originally from Trinidad and Tobago. Most of the people in the Caribbean are still enslaved mentally. They somehow seem to see England and not Africa as the mother country. Pathetic!
Winston Taylor
New York City, USA

The article is educational and full of important dates. However, the title: "Slavery: We done wid dat?" Perhaps you should ask if the BBC is ready to take such issues seriously.
Terry Carter
San Diego, California

While S. Soobrian is correct in his/her analysis of the Indo and Chinese Caribbean meeting the same treatment as Afro-Caribbean slaves, it should be kept in mind that these other cultures had the option to remain in their homeland or to travel to the "New World". Not only did they have a choice, they were also given a small salary and land at the end of their indentureship, thereby giving them a headstart. I am of mixed descent and have lots of Chinese and Indian relatives. Caribbean people did move on from the shackles of slavery but did not forget their past. I think that our past made us stronger in the Caribbean where the populace quickly bacame an Afro majority on most islands. Unlike our counterparts in countries where they are the minority, still feel oppressed. The fact that afro-Caribbeans are also more educated about their past may also play an important role in empowering us.
S. Lee
Trinidad/US

SLAVERY is still here? The people are not given equal opportunities to fulfill their aspirations
Joseph Prashad
Berkshire, UK

I am a St. Lucian. For my part I believe St. Lucian society has moved on from slavery and indentureship. Of course there are cultural patterns that are a result of our past but people in St. Lucia are upwardly mobile, striving for education, assets and their children. Skin colour and all of the minor hangovers that exist because of our past are but a vague memory in St. Lucia. I am confident that I am not judged on anything but my merit by fellow St. Lucians. And we do not feel slavery is keeping us down. If people in the Caribbean are suffering from a slavery hang over
Kimani Goddard
Castries, St Lucia

I think it depends on who you ask and where you ask.
Slavery was abolished in 1834 but I think a lot of West Indians have still not recovered from the shocks. When we sit and listen to our grandparents speak or read about the horror of slavery, one or two things play in our minds. The first one is to take inspiration from the heroic feats of our forefathers and continue the hard work that will lead to our development in this New World. The second one brings about a scourge to our nations i.e I asked one guy why he is so relaxed and does not work, he said that since he is not qualified to have an office job he prefers to stay at home rather than to return to fields and harvest cane because that was for the slaves. In this case the horrors of slavery still have a negative and ugly effect on our society.
R Puran
Guyana

If I may speak only for the island in which I lived for 37 years, I can say that in Trinidad and Tobago we have not completely freed ourselves from the effects of the enslavement of our ancestors. What we have read and heard of the treatment meted out to our people still affects the way we look at, and deal with people of European descent. And as long as white racism is alive and well, that attitude will prevail. I do not think we are "shackled" by slavery, but we will remember and it will take a while yet to forgive.
Lennox
Pembroke Pines, Florida

My partner is St Lucian and she thinks the past is the past. She also says that it was the Africans who sold themselves into slavery. She thinks that people should move on and remember that slavery was worldwide until a few centuries ago. Even Britons were taken as slaves from Roman to early medieval times.
Matt
Dudley, UK

I am a West-Indian. Many generations of my family lived in Trinidad before me. They were a product of the slave trade also...but they were not Africans. They were Indians. After the Abolition of slavery plantation owners needed alternative slaves or "labourers" as they were called. These people also suffered the same inhumane conditions as the Africans. And yet no recognition is made for them. Not only Indians but Chinese people suffered the same fate. I am very proud to call myself an Indian/Caribbean. The Caribbean was built on the blood, sweat and tears, not only of the Africans but of the other races there also. I think that we should all be commemorating the end of slavery not only for Africans butfor all the other races too.
S Soobrian, London, United Kingdom