Bank of England apologizes for the slave trade

Text by: Ariane Gaffuri Follow

In the United Kingdom, the Bank of England apologizes for the participation of at least 25 former governors and directors in the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is a database compiled by UCL, University College London which highlights their involvement in this dark period of history.

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"  There is no doubt that the slave trade of the 18th and 19th centuries is an unacceptable part of English history  ." This was said by the spokesman for the Bank of England. If the bank, he adds, "  was not directly involved in the slave trade, it is aware of certain inexcusable ties which involve former governors and directors and apologize for them  ".

The Central Bank of the United Kingdom has also promised to remove from its headquarters in London all the statues and paintings that represent the slave trade. It is also committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the Institution.

This mea culpa comes at a time when many companies around the world have been asked to examine their historical ties to slavery. An awareness raised by the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations against racism. Activists in Bristol destroyed a statue of Edward Colston, an English slave trader. And Oxford College decided to unbolt the statue of Colonel Cecil Rhodes .

In addition, according to data from University College London, around 100 Church of England clerics were involved in the slave trade.

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