Professor Catherine Hall (UCL): ‘Making White and Black: Edward Long slave-owner and historian of Jamaica’

This talk will introduce Edward Long, whose History of Jamaica published in 1774 (and in print ever since) aimed to convince a metropolitan audience that slavery was essential to the wealth of Britain and that black people were naturally born to serve those who were white. Long’s account of Jamaica provides an extraordinarily detailed picture of the plantation economy, the slavery business as it operated across the Atlantic, and the forms of racialisation on which the system depended. Long’s ideas of racial difference and hierarchy have had a powerful influence in Britain as well as in the US.

All are welcome, but those wishing to attend should book a free ticket via Eventbrite or email archives@churchofengland.org not later than 5th February.

Please note that tickets must be booked individually and we need each attendee’s name for security purposes.