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🇬🇧 **Imperfect Memories of British Slavery**

“_British abolition in 1833 was accompanied by £20 million paid in compensation to slaveholders, many of whom subsequently “forgot” slavery ever existed._”

🔗 daily.jstor.org/imperfect-memo.

@histodons

@bibliolater @histodons Even if they have to hire a lawyer to defend their blood-soaked inheritance, they WILL be reminded of their place in the #history of #slavery. ✅

@bibliolater @histodons
I've just had a poke around a converter and apparently, 20 million pounds in 1834 would amount to 3.24 billion pounds today.
This might be a useful benchmark for future reparations negotiations for former British colonies, for instance.

The converter is this one, by @katemorley

@andbhold @histodons @katemorley

I remember seeing a television documentary by historian David Olusoga, in which he said that the compensation was worth billions in today's money. If my memory is not mistaken, I think he may have said 2 or 3 billion pounds, which tallies with your calculation.

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