It
should offer food for thought to our churches in Belfast
that this city – too often a modern byword for sectarianism
and violence – was once a radical, progressive town
where, in the 1780s and 1790s, opposition to the slave trade
was vocal and widespread. Amongst those who were most opposed
to this infamous traffic in human beings were the leaders
of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who, at this time,
passed yearly motions in their General Assembly, supporting
the campaigning work of William Wilberforce.
However, support for the
anti-slavery lobby by local Christians was not merely confined
to yearly assent to the work of Wilberforce. Many men and
women in Belfast refused to consume the produce of those
parts of the Americas where slaves were employed. Tobacco
was frowned on for this reason, as was rum, which was made
from sugar cane grown on the slave plantations of the West
Indies. One famous resident of the town, Thomas Russell,
refused to eat "sweetmeats" at society functions,
declaring that, "On every lump of sugar I see a drop
of human blood".
A women's anti-slavery committee
busied itself in the town during the 1790s and the organisation
encouraged the sale and the wear of Josiah Wedgwood's fashionable
jasper cameo brooches, which were decorated with the picture
of a chained negro salve and the caption, "Am I not
a man and a brother?". Amongst those involved was the
famous Presbyterian lady Mary Ann McCracken, who, even in
her later years, was to be seen standing at the docks handing
out political leaflets to the sailors and passengers who
were heading for the southern ports of the USA, where slavery
was still rife.
Amongst the surprising features
of the social life of Belfast at that time was the presence
in the town of the freed American slave Olaudah Equiano,
whose recently published autobiography told the horrific
story of his capture, his enforced journey to the West Indies
and his labour there as a slave, before he managed to escape
and make his way to Europe. Equiano stayed for several months
with the Belfast businessman and journalist Samuel Neilson
and Equiano's story of enslavement, conversion to Christianity
and subsequent liberation was an inspiration to many of
Belfast's more open-minded inhabitants.
However, the financial lure
of the West Indies' plantations was too much for some Belfast
businessmen to resist and amongst the local men who made
a profit from negro misery was one entrepreneur who traded
in barrels of salted Irish fish, sent off for consumption
by the slaves in Jamaica and Barbados. Another local business-owner
made special footwear, suitable for the use of the workers
on the sugar plantations. Fortunately, due to the vigorous
protests of men and women such as Samuel Neilson, Thomas
Russell and Mary Ann McCracken, attempts to found a slave-shipping
company in Belfast never got off the ground and the town
retained its deep interest in the international anti-slavery
movement.
The question for us today
is whether we are living up to this fine standard or not?
Slavery is, arguably, more prevalent than ever in the 21st
century world. Ethical consumption is as relevant as ever.
The use of fairly traded produce is surely our Christian
duty and support for Tearfund and Christian Aid a crucial
commitment. Let us remember that over 200 years ago, local
believers saw it as their task to oppose exploitation and
injustice. We should follow in their path.
Philip
Orr
