Thomas Clarkson was a prominent abolitionist and leading figure in the campaign for the abolition of the Slave Trade in Britain. Taking issue with the perception and treatment of slaves, Clarkson discusses what he believes is responsible for the negative perception of Africans and blacks in the late 18thcentury.
Suppression is discussed in depth by Thomas Clarkson as a key reason why Africans are perceived to be inferior. Arguing that the limitations placed upon the African people has caused their intellectual development to stagnate, Clarkson states in the document that ‘You confound their abilities by the severity of their servitude: for as a spark of fire, if crushed by too great a weight of incumbent fuel, cannot be blown into aflame, but suddenly expires’. Such extreme restrictions on the day to day lives of Africans coincided with their brutish treatment whilst in captivity labelled by Clarkson as the ‘most inhuman treatment that imagination can devise’, is just one reason why Africans abilities are perceived as inferior by the British in the late 18thcentury. Moreover, such tough living conditions have further consequences according to Clarkson, with Africans subsequently having little hope of a brighter future. Saying that if ‘they have no expectations in life to awaken their abilities, and make them eminent, we cannot be surprized if a sullen gloomy stupidity should be the leading mark in their character’. Clarkson makes it clear that a promised lifetime of depression and barbaric treatment has major effects on the character of enslaved Africans in Britain, with such serious implications responsible for furthering false beliefs about the behaviour and characters of African people.
In response to the character effects that Clarkson makes clear slavery has on Africans, he suggests that a ‘true judgement’ would be better formed about Africans if they were judged before slavery whilst in their own country. Expanding upon this idea that the poor environment and treatment of African slaves has impacted the character of Africans, Clarkson discusses how enhancements to African colonies would therefore change such a negative view on Africans drastically. ‘Let us now follow them to the colonies’ Clarkson says … ‘this observation, which is so frequently made, is of great importance: for if their abilities expand in proportion to the improvement of their state, it is a clear indication, that if they were equally improved, they would be equally ingenious’. Overall Clarkson focuses heavily on the issues caused by restricting Africans freedoms with their lack of control and education
Concluding that ‘if the minds of the Africans were unbroken by slavery; if they had thesame expectations in life as other people, and the same opportunities ofimprovement, they would be equal; in all the various branches ofscience’, Thomas Clarkson makes it clear that the living environment of Africans in Britain is responsible for false perceptions of inferiority which poisons the minds of most Europeans in the late 18thcentury.
Dear Ewen this is a perceptive and insightful analysis of a section of Clarkson’s work. However you should identify it by its title and say a bit about the context in which he wrote.
The work in question is ‘An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African,’ translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was Honoured with the First Prize, in the University of Cambridge, for the Year 1785, with Additions (London: J. Phillips, 1786). Your use of quotation is particularly good throughout your post and shows a good understanding of Clarkson’s arguments. You might have included an image of Clarkson and /or his book cover. You might also have mentioned his demolition of the ‘mark of Cain’ argument too.