In countries touched by European colonialism, the subjects of enslavement and reparations suddenly seem to be on the agenda. This week, the Guardian stepped forward to publish its thorough investigation into the publication’s beginnings in, and connections with, slavery. In February, the former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan travelled to Grenada to apologise for her family having owned 1,000 enslaved Africans there, and donate £100,000 to establish education projects on the island. The Dutch king recently welcomed his prime minister’s apology for the Netherlands’ role in 250 years of slavery – even if that carefully avoided a direct apology from his throne and the inevitable repercussions. At last, these conversations are being had.
Reactions around the world to these declarations have been varied. Any outrage that there might have been about the Dutch announcement was smoothed over by the royal family’s visit to their Caribbean islands. Queen Maxima dancing with locals was a celebrity show as effective in demonstrating an enlightened, non-racist attitude to their colonial family as Prince Harry’s two-step years ago with Rita Marley’s dancers in Trenchtown.
