Bristol's History with Slavery

From the 1690s, Bristol ships began legally partaking in the triangular trade system, shipping West African slaves to the West Indies for large which are often supported by illicit child labour, forced or voluntary.

The developing picture demonstrates increasing numbers of potential modern slaves – both child and adult – in the UK. This trend could be interpreted as promising: higher numbers mean referral systems are working e ectively to identify potential victims. Simultaneously, higher numbers could also mean that there are increasing numbers of potential modern slaves in the UK, with an equally increasing proportion of potential victims left unidenti ed.

As a hidden crime, modern slavery is hard to prevent, detect and prosecute. Many victims su er emotional abuse alongside physical exploitation, meaning they are often too afraid or ashamed to seek help.

The frightening reality is that I could walk past a stranger on Whiteladies Road, or Gloucester Road, or Park Street, and have no idea that they were a victim of modern slavery.

UK charities currently calculate that the UK alone houses between pro t margins. By the 1730s, Bristol had overtaken London to become the UK’s premier slaving port, transporting 8,000 enslaved Africans to North America and the British Caribbean.

By the late 1700s, this slave trade dominated Bristol’s foreign trade economy with Bristol-made products such as cooking pots, fabric and alcohol supplying West African markets and the colonies. In return, slaves provided free labour for plantations in the West Indies which produced unre ned sugar, cocoa and tobacco; these were then exported to the UK to be rened in Bristol’s processing factories.

While the slave trade was abolished in 1807 and slavery itself outlawed throughout the British Empire in 1834, the vestiges of Bristol’s pro t from the slave trade remain: from Wills Memorial to Tyndall’s Park, the Fry building to Goldney Hall each of these places are named after families who directly or indirectly bene tted extensively from Bristol’s slave trade. Even the University crest still bears the insignia of its main benefactors – the Wills, Colston and Fry families – all of whom directly pro ted from slave trading and who nancially contributed to the University’s establishment.

The abolishment of the slave trade and the legal prohibition of slavery across the British Empire provided immediate legal freedom for former slaves. But the imperial culture of racial supremacy remained, fuelling racism long into the 20th century. The Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963 arose from racial discrimination: Black and Asian persons were refused work within the Bristol Omnibus Company, prompting a city-wide bus boycott. Continued racial tension, driven by housing shortages and racial harassment, boiled over in 1980 when the St. Paul’s Riot saw areas of St. Paul’s set on re in protest against police aggression.

In the 21st century, Bristol continues to grapple with its colonial past and the realities of racism in the present. Colston’s toppling drew international attention to the city’s riotous decolonising action, while the University has begun to seriously investigate its links with the city’s slave trade. An ongoing review of the University’s building names has prompted celebration, frustration and many polarised conversations between students, sta and the city’s wider population.

Auntie Oscar's Advice...

The University of Bristol’s third most insu erable homosexual is here to o er his words of wisdom to all who ask! This month’s theme? 4 tips for how to get a date...

1. Be confident, but not cocky!

Everybody loves confidence, it’s sexy! But don’t mistake your ego for confidence. Remember you are asking them to give you a chance, so please phrase it as a question. Often the easiest way to go about it is to be simple and to the point, e.g. “hey, I really like you, do you want to go on a date some time?”, it’s confident, clear and to the point (and the worst they can say is no!) Another bonus tip: if they say no, please be respectful, no one likes a d*ck.

2. Have a plan

This goes for the asking and the date. Think about a good time to ask them, don’t yell it in the middle of a quiet seminar, for example. Think about what to suggest; are they a drinks, co ee or dinner person? Do they value their independence? If so, maybe let them choose. Which brings me on to my next point…

3. Always be thinking of them

I want to preface this by saying, don’t do anything you don’t want to do! What I mean is, make sure that your cutie is comfortable. If they get cold, put a jacket around them, if they don’t like the place you’re in, get the bill and go somewhere else. Also, before the date, ask them what sort of stu they like. Maybe they’re better suited to a Spoons than a fancy restaurant, or a takeaway co ee and a walk through the park rather than a few drinks and heading back to you place ;)

4. Be yourself!

Yes it’s corny it’s cheesy it’s overdone it’s a cliché but it’s also TRUE! Now, should you burp the alphabet and answer “what do you do in your spare time?” with: “play video games, cry about disabled cats on TikTok and masturbate too much for a grown adult”? NO OF COURSE NOT! A little bit of lying and embellishing is necessary, but you shouldn’t pretend to be a di erent person entirely. After all, if you guys date an idea of each other, when that illusion shatters, so will the relationship. Also, I guarantee that people will find your authentic self, charming or sexy or cute or fun, or all of them, so go get ‘em tiger!

Dating is hard and scary, but I hope that this has helped. You didn’t want it, you didn’t ask for it, so here you go!