Why is it important to understand how slavery affected what societies thought about people of African descent?

Although we know the transatlantic slave trade happened a long time ago it is still affecting society today. Issues like racism, inequality and prejudice experienced now are part of the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Ideas about race and power that developed during that time have influenced people’s views today.

During the 18th century most British people did not know very much about other people and cultures. Because of slavery attitudes towards African people were very negative and insulting, black people were rarely seen as being equal. Over time offensive images and language were used in art, advertising and film and had a big effect on people’s attitudes to other cultures. As more people came to Britain, particularly during the 1950s people began to protest about this representation. Artists, photographers and actors challenged these views and images and began representing themselves in their own ways.

This section gives you information about the ways British and American representations of African people have changed since slavery.