What Events Are Happening In Hull For Slavery Remembrance Day This August?

On Saturday, 23 August, the city of Hull is set to pause and reflect. It's Slavery Remembrance Day, a time to think about a really tough part of history - the transatlantic slave trade - and the long, hard fight for its abolition. This isn't just about looking back at dusty old books. It's about understanding how the past shapes our world today and continuing the conversation about fairness and freedom for everyone.

Events are happening across the city, led by the Lord Mayor, to mark this important commemoration and keep the dialogue going.

Why this day is so important for Hull

You can't really talk about the fight to end the slave trade in Britain without mentioning Hull. The city is famous for being the home of William Wilberforce, a politician who spent most of his life campaigning to stop the horrific transatlantic slave trade. His family home is now the Wilberforce House Museum, a place dedicated to telling this powerful story.

So, when it comes to the abolition of slavery, Hull has a massive connection. This annual remembrance is a chance for the community to come together and acknowledge that history. It's an event designed to educate and inspire people to think about big ideas like justice, equality, and human rights. It's not about feeling bad, but about learning and making sure the world keeps moving in the right direction. The day is a reminder of the struggle for abolition and the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality for all.

What's happening on Saturday 23 August?

Two main events are planned for the day, bringing people together for this important commemoration. The Hull Slavery Remembrance Day Partnership has organised a special gathering at Wilberforce House. This event will take place in the museum's Mandela Gardens, providing a peaceful space for reflection and remembrance. It's fitting that the commemoration happens right there, at the very place where the famous abolitionist was born.

At the same time, the Lord Mayor will be heading over to the Hull Afro Caribbean Association to officially open a community gathering. This highlights the importance of the day for everyone in the city, bringing together different groups to share in the remembrance. The Hull Afro Caribbean Association is a vital part of the city, and its involvement shows how this history is a shared one. These events are key to the city's observation of this International Day.

• Commemoration Event: Wilberforce House Museum, Mandela Gardens
• Community Gathering: Hull Afro Caribbean Association

A global day of remembrance

This isn't just a Hull-based event; it's part of a much bigger, global day of reflection. The 23rd of August is officially recognised by UNESCO as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. UNESCO is a part of the United Nations that works to build peace through education and culture, and they chose this date for a powerful reason. It marks the anniversary of an uprising of enslaved people in 1791 on the island of Saint-Domingue (what we now know as Haiti). This was a major moment in the fight for abolition, showing that enslaved people were fighting for their own freedom.

By holding this remembrance on the same day, Hull connects its own local history with this massive global story of resistance and the fight for human rights. It's a powerful statement that the struggle against slavery was, and still is, a worldwide movement. The International Day helps to ensure that the memory of the slave trade is never forgotten.

More than just history

Thinking about slavery can feel like looking at something from a long, long time ago. But as Hull's Lord Mayor, Councillor Cheryl Payne, points out, the fight for freedom is far from over. The issue of modern slavery is a stark reminder that this battle for human rights continues today.

The Lord Mayor said: "Hull as a city will forever be associated with the abolition of the slave trade, primarily due to the campaigning by our own William Wilberforce. But as much as we would like to think that slavery is a thing of the past, there are still many people worldwide who find themselves in modern slavery. It's important that we are able to come together to send a message that slavery in any form is unacceptable, and that no-one should be forced into it."

Her words highlight why this remembrance is so crucial. It's not just about the past; it's about the present. Modern slavery is a terrible reality where people are tricked or forced into work with no escape. By coming together for this commemoration, the people of Hull are continuing the work that Wilberforce started. They are standing up and saying that any form of slavery is completely unacceptable, promoting a continuous dialogue about justice and freedom for every single person. This event aims to inspire everyone to think about what they can do to help build a world with true equality.