2: Although slavery had been widely abolished in the British Colonies as from 1807, it was in reality still practised for many years in the slave holding plantations of the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica. A recent Jamaican professor pointed out that William Wilberforce and his act to end slavery had little relevance, for Jamaicans look to the Sharpes Rebellion 1831, a revolt of the slaves themselves as the real abolitionists. Even though Sharpes Rebellion failed and many ''Black Rebels'' were hung, nevertheless their revolt spread shockwaves through the Caribbean colonies, which did more to motivate the slave owners to free their slaves. It should not be lost on Welsh people that Sharpes Rebellion takes place at same time as our Insurrection 1831. The writer of the aforementioned SWEP letter refers to Welsh Workers has being slaves too, surely they were as all workers became oppressed and exploited ''Wage Slaves'' for much of the 19th century, freed black slaves would of course join them during the passing of that century.
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This huge interest in William Wilberforce this year, much more Welsh connected with Ioan Gruffydd acting part of Wilberforce in the recently released film, but I shall be kind to Wilberforce, he was on the side of the angels and no one can deny him his place in history. However, neither should we forget Sharp and Turner and their stand against slavery. Patriots also are mindful that the Black Struggle in America was a long, bitter and painful one. Here the names that come to mind are Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X also a number of Black Power/Panther leaders as example Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale and others as Angela Davies.
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So what of the Welsh and Slavery, all by now will know of the connection of Lord Penrhyn and Anthony Bacon, as Englishmen in Wales whose fortunes were derived from Slave plantations. Then there is the matter of that good solid Welshman ''Barti Ddu'', the pirate who prior to this was involved in slaving, as of course many Welsh were involved in overseer positions on slave plantations. I believe an huge number of ''Welsh Royalist Prisoners'' (later known as 'Red Legs') after the Battle of Saint Fagans were sent to the Caribbean, maybe their descendents became such ''overseers'', giving rise to fact that so many slaves were given Welsh names. However, for a real ''Bad Taff Bastard'', there is none better than Lieutenant General Picton whose statue stands in Carmarthen to this day. I quote the following piece of information on him below, from the Waterloo Battlefield Tour Website.
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''He obtained a government post in the West Indies and between 1797 and 1803 he served as Governor of Trinidad. His rule of the island does not make pleasant reading. It was very dictatorial and was littered with executions, some of them summary, slaves' heads on poles, floggings, corruption and pocket lining. His run came to an end in 1803 when he was recalled and put on trial for condoning torture to extract a confession out of a local woman, one Luisa Calderon. He got off on the technicality that local Spanish law allowed such things. His reputation was, however, irreparably damaged and the case is the reason why he never received a peerage despite his military achievements''. (Thus kind of poetic justice that he lost his head, blown away by a cannon ball at Battle of Waterloo).
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Some believe the name Welsh comes from the Saxon word for ''Slave'', others say the word derives from ''Roman Like'', no doubt about it the Brythons of England were enslaved by the Saxons. Old English laws prove this, so does a recent book on the genetic make up of Britain which indicates little evidence of any Celtic DNA in England, which the author suggests is not due to the old theory of Celts being driven west but rather Saxon slavery militated against a marital mixing between the Brython and Saxon. Further, of course slaves would not be in good position to have and support children, records show that throughout the dark ages into the middle ages the Saxons/English often on invasion of Cymru would make a point of rounding up of children into slavery. The Dark Age/Heroic Age/Golden Age, call it what you will is littered with the evidence of the practise of slavery with both the Irish and Vikings raiding Cymru for slaves (Saint Patrick remember), as often as not in these times Cymric chiefs would sell fellow Cymry as slaves to the Irish. Patriots, I remind that Cunedda upon his invasion and conquest of the Western parts of Cymru (pura Wallia/Tiroedd Cunedda) enslaved much of the native population of Cymru, people more likely to have been in part as much Beaker and Iberian as Celtic, making of them ''Bond People'', very much so slaves as were English Serfs.
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The present interest in the aforementioned matters of slavery should not be considered with out a world view of the subject regarding the history of slavery, which brings to mind the role of slavery in ancient civilizations, not least regards within the Roman Empire. Following very much on this is the issue of Arab/Islamic association with slavery, first matter of interest is that the Arab term for people of African descent is ''Abed, Abid, Abeed'' meaning Slave. This will of course resonate with Cymry who believe the term ''Welsh'' means slave but there any similarity stops, as whilst the Islamic world became heavily involved in Slavery as from the 7th century, if not before? and arguably continue to be involved (see Darfor today). I suggest you search web for more material here, you will find an huge area which will be of great Interest as example regards the Mamulukes, on to enslavement of Christians from time of crusades to the 16th century and later (see Barbary Coast Corsairs). Greatly illuminating to me was fact that many African Slaves had been prior to their enslavement, been converted to Islam by Arab incursions into Africa. Many of these ''Muslim'' Black Slaves in time were to figure greatly in 'Slave Revolts' as in Bahia, Brazil 1835.
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This month there is much good TV&Radio programmes on issue of the Atlantic Slavery, worthy of watching but do take it further than what you are being offered by ''British/Welsh/Cymru Media''. Do take the broader issue of slavery in history, not least the Islamic contribution to this evil trade, and not least read material by ''Africanist Historians'' in America today. In both these areas there are raging debates which produces material weighty with historical information and facts. It's up to you then to decide where you stand in determining certain truths. To my mind Western Europe, America and the Arab/Islamic world are each as guilty in the historical reality of slavery, our patriotic position should be one that supports the slave against the master, who ever the slave may be, they are our ''Brothers/Sisters of the Ox'' whilst all who would be masters of people are Tyrants to all of humanity.
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This leads me to conclude by looking further at that letter, which prompted me to pen something on present Wilberforce Commemoration and matters arising, so to return to that question, ''The Welsh were Slaves too''. Of course we were, in the dark ages aka ''Golden Age'' no doubt possibly 1000's of Cymry were enslaved and carried away, right up to time of Edward I and the final conquest of Cymru/Wales. Further, few people realise fully that the ''Welshry and Englishry'' colonial system enforced on our homeland and people in the middle ages by the Anglo - Norman ''Conquistadors'' was very much an ''Apartheid System'' we ourselves have witnessed being forced upon South African Blacks prior to their Independence. Cymru/Wales was England's first Colony and will probably be her last, thus we have in our history experienced the ill effects of that Colonialism down through the centuries. Our history of popular struggles during the 19th century, not least the 1831 Insurrection speaks to us of continued Tyranny, Oppression and Exploitation by English Imperialism in a Country, still very much economically a colony. However, two facts to keep in mind, one being, that by the 19th Century English Imperialism was being aided and abetted by a native neo - colonial capitalist class, the rising native Victorian bourgeoisie, out of which would be born ''Y Crachach'' = England's Colonial Client Tribe Today. Secondly, do keep this firmly in mind that what ever history tells us of our own slavery by Saxon, Viking or Irish, it was never as bad as the murderously inhuman and genocidal slavery that was the Atlantic Slave Trade or indeed what Western Europeans did to the First Peoples of America. Indeed it is worth while keeping in mind that English reaction to Welsh Revolts, or 18th century Popular Struggles and 19th century Radical Workers Struggles were mild in comparison to the savage English reaction to any Irish misdemeanour. Even Cromwell's reaction to the ''Welsh Insolence'' as he seen the ''Royalist Rebellion'' in Pembrokeshire did not compare to the savagery of Drogheda. But of course the Irish were Catholics and the Welsh were Protestants, that says a lot about our later post 1536 history, but that's something I will deal with again, more and more.
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To conclude, we are now being prevailed upon for Wales to ''Officially'' (I presume via the Welsh Assembly? but ''ijeet'' Hain has already done so as SoSfW) apologise for slavery, this I oppose for good reason, as Wales at time of this evil was a colony and today continues to be a neo - colony. Our ''involvement'' in slavery then was one of being not just an ''unwilling partner'' but matter was out of our hands. Any ''Welsh Involvement'' in those times was by way of individuals, and as the Bible says; ''I am not my Brothers Keeper''. However, there is no harm but only good, if individuals and Societies as and when possible say sorry and apologise for this great evil some of our ancestors visited upon Africans taken in the Atlantic Slave Trade. Then there is matter of reparations, here again I say no, for good reasons much same as I have mentioned above. Why, should Wales and Welsh People pay today for the crimes of English Imperialism and Capitalism? It has already been said by some one on Radio debate today, ''will England apologise for the conquest of Cymru in 1282'', this is year of the 725th anniversary of conquest, so perhaps we should ask for England to apologise for the crimes of Edward I, at least in regard to slaughter of the innocents. After all, were not the children of the Royal Family of Gwynedd made to suffer and put in places where they would die? Then what if we asked for the descendents of Lord Penryn and Bacon to pay for the oppressive exploitation of the Welsh Workers who added to their capitalist wealth, somehow I do not think they will pay up, so what's the point in asking?
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There is a great deal in the media, publishing world, in libraries and on the web regards much of the above, for you to consider, discuss and debate. I hope the above helps point patriots toward some useful areas of research and study. Further, note that there are a number of events going on associated with the Wilberforce commemoration as exhibitions and drama etc. Check out local media listings and of course, the Web. To end with a question, I know the answer but do you? What has the Black Boy Pub in Caernarfon got to do with Black History of the above period under discu
ssion?