Abolition Season
Introduction
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ announces a season of programmes and online content to mark the 200th anniversary of the Act of Abolition of the Slave Trade (1807).
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The season sets out to tell the stories of the forgotten heroes – the women and men who helped drive the spirit and action of the Abolition movement that eventually led to emancipation decades later – and to bring to life a story that still affects our lives in Britain today.
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A range of programmes and content across television, radio and on bbc.co.uk/abolition presents an array of stories and voices – from the enslaved Africans, who drove and fuelled the abolition movement by resisting slavery at every turn on the Caribbean plantations; to The Quakers, Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano, William Wilberforce and the ordinary people of Britain who gathered evidence, went on marches, signed petitions and rallied supporters.
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The very first public movement that led to monumental social change came into being and became the template for modern fights against injustice.
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The season is presented and produced by historical experts, those with personal connections to slavery, and those who profoundly understand how the legacy of slavery affects us now.
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They include Kwame Kwei-Armah, Moira Stuart, Melvyn Bragg, Michael Buerk, Simon Schama, Nicky Campbell, Rageh Omaar and Niomi Daley (Ms Dynamite).
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Chantal Badjie, Abolition Season Project Director, said: "It's a difficult subject to approach. Some fear it because it is a terrible period of history. Others assume it will be 'boring'. The reality is it's one of the most interesting, complex, disturbing, yet inspirational stories we never tell about Britain. I believe that this season offers something for all our audiences."
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The season runs from 20 February to 1 April 2007.
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TP/EF/RI/EH
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