London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

An apology denied is justice denied

An apology denied is justice denied

Activist David Weaver remembers the day, 20 years ago, when Britain told a world conference there would be no apology for slavery
IT WAS exactly 20 years ago, on 3rd September, that the UK prime minister, Tony Blair, boldly rose to announce his and the British Government’s blatant refusal to give an outright apology for slavery and Britain’s role in the evil enslavement of African people.

This took place at the World Conference Against Racism that was held in Durban, South Africa.

People tend to say that the decision to embark on the war in Iraq was Blair’s greatest failure but for me – as a descendant of enslaved Africans – his biggest failure and ultimate disgrace was authorising the British Government’s refusal to apologise for slavery.

This was a move that most Black people in Britain saw as grievous disrespect and one which we cannot ever forgive or forget. Indeed, I would argue that this decision has continued the intergenerational racialised trauma faced by descendants of the enslaved people and one which has given absolute legitimacy to institutionalised and structural racism in this country.

At the time I was chair of the 1990 Trust (a high profile anti-racist and human rights) body and a significant number of our team and networks attended the conference in Durban).

We were shocked by the absolute depth of resistance of the British Government to giving an apology.

While some other European nations wanted to apologise, Britain joined the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal and proposed only to express “regret” about the slave trade, without any specific recognition of responsibility.

Britain’s decision completely disregarded the loud calls for reparations from Commonwealth countries and its own black citizens.

Why is marking this day important? For me, the World Conference Against Racism was a wake-up call to Britain and a sign that many other European powers are not prepared to turn their eyes away from a global atrocity indefinitely. More importantly, the conference sparked a moment when Africans from all over the world, representing all forms of activism, came together and forged alliances which are now bearing fruit two decades on.

Indeed, Jamaica has put a price tag on slavery and has sent the British government the bill. State officials of
the Caribbean nation said they’re asking Great Britain to pay $10.6 billion (USD) in reparations.

And the calls for the apology and for reparations have not lessened – in fact they have increased. Out of the Durban conference has arisen a healthy convergence between the consciousness emerging from the Black Lives Matter movements, Pan-Africanist thought, and countries extricating themselves from colonial powers.

The recent announcement by Barbados of its intention to remove Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and become a
republic no doubt presages its own claim for reparations. In the U.S, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee has pushed a bill to form a commission to study reparations for African- American victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

In this country, amidst the furore about statues, street names and so called ‘stately homes’, there is a subliminal argument being posed by those who oppose Britain apologising for the transatlantic slave trade and making reparations for it. “It was a long time ago get over it – after all David you were never a slave”. What hypocrisy!
Reparations have already been paid for the slave trade – but only to the descendants of the White ‘Slave Owners’!

The fact is that the British government borrowed £20 million from the taxpayer – which amounted to a massive 40 percent of the Treasury’s annual income or about 5 percent of British GDP, to hand to the enslavers.

The loan was one the largest in history.

It was only in 2015 that, according to the Treasury, British taxpayers (including you and I – the victims of this evil so-called trade) finished ‘paying off’ the debt. In short, we have suffered the compound insult of not only being told by our government that we are not worthy of an apology – we as descendants of our enslaved ancestors have been paying off a debt used to compensate the people who kidnapped, raped, murdered and brutalised my family members just four generations ago.

History teaches many lessons; but it is up to us whether we dismiss them or fashion them into powerful arguments for righting past injustices.

Britain is sadly mistaken if it views Durban as settling its account on the slave trade.

It must now reconcile its past with a futureburgeoning with demands from Africans at home and abroad for an apology and reparations.But it will only happen if we ‘do for self’ – and recognise our responsibility to bequeath tofuture generations a society better than we found it.

Central to this has to be ensuring thatwe use our political leverage – including our voting power – to ensure that we, our childrenand children’s children receive the dignity of an apology for the most heinous violation ofhuman rights ever.

That apology will only ring true if backed by hard currency that is commensurate with the scale of funds needed to build strong Black communities.

It’s the least Britain can do in recognising the suffering and the courage of our ancestors.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×