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Campaign
No room for slavery
The British Museum needs a permanent exhibit about the slave trade
Why does the British Museum need to talk about slavery?
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Campaign overview
The British Museum is practically silent on the enslavement of African people, an abhorrent trade which transformed the UK economy between 1400 and 1800. Room 46, which covers this period, is currently full of pots, vases and figurines. We can only live together if we understand our shared history. It’s time for a permanent exhibition that tells this fundamental story.
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7 March 2025
Marvin Rees: We must build our national story on strong foundations
When protesters tipped a slaver’s statue into Bristol Harbour, they raised a crucial question about the city’s rich history. It’s time for the British Museum to explore the painful story of transatlantic slavery.