Summary
In Chapter 6 of Bury the Chains by Adam Hochschild, we are reintroduced to the twelve men we met in the first chapter who met at 2 George Yard in 1787 to abolish slavery. Hochschild reminds us again that while many people disapproved of slavery, the thought that something could be done to stop it was preposterous. This story focuses on one man, Thomas Clarkson, who organized the group after publishing his award winning essay about the legality of forcing slaves to work against their will. Clarkson had no intention of abolishing slavery, but always questioned if his research of how slaves were treated was true. His essay was lengthened and then published at the printing press at 2 George Yard. Clarkson's essay encouraged others to join his cause and eventually allowed them to achieve what was previously thought to be impossible.Comment
On page 93, we are introduced to James Ramsay who, like Clarkson, also wrote a book but his was from eyewitness accounts while in the West Indies. Ramsay had preached to slaves and taught them about the Bible on St. Kitts. Like Equiano's story, I am confused - I thought slaves were forbidden from learning or attending religious services. Did they attend without permission? I feel like I am frequently led to believe that slaves had no options in life, but this book proves the opposite. While their options were limited, they still had opportunities.
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