Culture

by Dr. Alan Rice

This section describes how the experiences of slavery affected art and culture. It shows how the Transatlantic Slave Trade did not end and then disappear without trace but continues to be around us today. Although three subjects have been chosen: dance, music and memorials, they are only examples.

It is hoped that reading about them will inspire you to think about other cultural forms that demonstrate how the slave trade has had an impact on our world. For instance, in sport you might think of athlete Jesse Owens at the Olympics of 1936 and Hitler's snub to him. In boxing, you might think of world champions such as Jack Johnson the first black world heavyweight champion in 1908, or Joe Louis who was the champion in 1937 or Muhammed Ali who won his first world championship in 1964.

These three boxing champions were only the latest in a line of prizefighters that began with ex-slaves in Britain such as Tom Molineux who fought in the early nineteenth century.