Watch Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners is a gripping historical documentary that delves into the deep-rooted connections between British imperialism and the slave trade. The show stars David Olusoga, an award-winning historian, and presenter, who traces the dark legacy of slavery in Britain, uncovering the uncomfortable truths of how slavery helped to build Britain's wealth and power.

The show takes place in the early 1800s, a time when Britain was the world's dominant power, with an economy built on the exploitation of other nations. Olusoga reveals that slavery played a significant role in this growth, creating a demand for cheap labor and raw materials from the colonies. The documentary charts the complex relationships among the slave trade, British politics, and the economy, examining how these factors intersected to create a system of oppression and exploitation that has had a lasting impact on society.

The show's narrative is driven by three main storylines: the life of a slave called Bud, the history of the slave trade in Jamaica, and the impact of slavery on British society as a whole. The narrative interweaves these threads, painting a vivid picture of the lives of slave owners and their slaves, drawing upon primary sources, such as letters, journals, and plantations records. Olusoga opens up the archives and pieces together this forgotten history as he uncovers the stories of the British men and women who profited from the slave trade.

The documentary is structured around three major historical events. The first is the passing of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which abolished the transatlantic slave trade. The second is the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which led to the freeing of all enslaved people in the British Empire. The third event is the British government’s decision to compensate slave owners for their losses after the abolition of slavery. Olusoga discusses how this compensation was paid, the amount of money paid, and to whom it was paid.

Throughout the show, Olusoga highlights how the legacy of slavery continues to affect British society. He argues that the current inequalities in the UK can be traced back to the days of British slavery, and explores how race, wealth, and power intersect in contemporary Britain.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners was first broadcast in 2015 and is now available to stream on BBC Select. It received positive reviews on its release, with critics praising Olusoga's engaging presentation style and the detailed research that went into the show. The program was hailed for its ability to delve into challenging and uncomfortable topics with sensitivity and a sense of balance.

Overall, Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that forces audiences to confront the uncomfortable realities of Britain's complicity in the slave trade. It is an essential piece of viewing for those looking to deepen their understanding of the historical and contemporary impact of British imperialism, colonization, and slavery.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between July 14, 2015 and on BBC Select