Sons of Africa
Sons of Africa were an 18th century British group, who campaigned to end slavery.
Their members included Ottobah Cugoano, Olaudah Equiano and other leading members [1] of London's black community. It ran alongside the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, whose membership included Thomas Clarkson who they called "our constant and generous friend" [2]
Campaign
They group held public meetings and wrote letters, for example to the MP Sir William Dolben. These letters were often sent to newspapers, to help provoke debate. Shortly after his correspondence with them, Dolben proposed a Parliamentary bill to improve the conditions on slave ships. [2] Olaudah Equiano also led delegations of this group to Parliament to further persuade MPs to abolish the slave trade. [3]
References
- ^ , Black England: life before emancipation, p172, Gretchen Gerzina, Allison and Busby ltd, pub 1999
- ^ a b , Black England: life before emancipation, p173, Gretchen Gerzina, Allison and Busby ltd, pub 1999
- ^ , Pan African History: Political Figures from Africa and the Diaspora Since 1787">, Hakim Adi & Marika Sherwood, pub Routledge, 2003.