Historical Accountability and Reparative Pathways: Addressing the Legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Abstract

The transatlantic slave trade received substantial boost from consistent exploitation and systematic inhumanity making it one of humanity’s worst experiences. Its repercussions are still observed, with it's economic, and cultural implications. Contrary to many other prejudices which began in human history, this lasted for 400 years where millions of Africans were forcefully captured, transported through forced labor under inhuman conditions to the Americas and Europe.  The wealth of the West was built on a system that perpetuated racism and formularies as well as socio-economic and cultural trauma. It also involves asking and offering forgiveness, restoration and reflection among the victims of this historical legacy in today’s society. Thus, this paper aims to analyze this paradigm in its postcolonial context and the ways to achieve reparative justice. In pursuing these, the paper discusses how the concept of historical accountability can form the context within which societies still suffering from the repercussions of the recent past can begin to come to terms with their past traumas. Therefore, this paper aims at identifying both the historical realities behind this sad past and directions on how reparative justice can be implemented appropriately. This paper focuses on the current exclusion of slave descendants as well as duties owed to historical and present-day societies that were beneficiaries of the slave trade. It makes a call for restorative justice, with the focus being on compensation which should make the victims in question return to their pre-slavery position. These should include; Financial remunerations, Education, culture, and other noble endeavors with the intention of empowering these deprived groups of people. As methodology, this paper uses historical and socio-economic review, as well as a comparison of state and non-state practices of reparation and localization of justice throughout different periods and areas. While employing qualitative approaches, including interviews with professionals and document analysis, it combines these approaches with quantitative data to demonstrate present-day economic inequity and social prosperity among descended people. This paper thus emphasises racially and gendered representational politics when considering reparative possible, laying out a holistic framework for thinking about reparative futures.  Thus, dealing with eradicating the effects of the transatlantic slavery that requires historical responsibility and reparative justice comes not only as an imperative moral and ethical obligation, but as the social requisite for the construction of the just society. This paper therefore calls for continuous policy discussion and engagement between policymakers, civil societies and descendant communities. In this connection, it is our collective intention to contribute towards the conceptualisation and practical arrangements for crucial reparations that may open the way towards justice, peaceful coexistence, socio-economic emancipation as well as vision of reconciled and fair society on the global level.

Keywords: Transatlantic, Slave Trade, Reparation, Racism.