Quantcast

Subscribe

A sculpture by French artist François Piquet on the theme of slavery in the Caribbean titled, “Timalle,” is displayed at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, England.

A sculpture by French artist François Piquet on the theme of slavery in the Caribbean titled, “Timalle,” is displayed at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, England.

Stories this photo appears in:

Tease photo

Slavery museum in Liverpool aims to confront painful legacy

carlet shackles sit peacefully on display in front of a sad, gray backdrop. The now rusted leg irons once locked human ankles during 18th century voyages from Africa to some European port, then to the Americas. Who the shackles held remains a mystery. But as a citizen of the United States, I’ve likely broken bread with a descendant of the woman forced to wear this instrument. Maybe my uncle fought alongside her kin in a war. Or it’s possible one of her distant relatives is now my relative. These are the thoughts I entertain while recently walking through the reflective International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, England.