New exhibition spotlights places in Britain connected to transatlantic slavery

A new Black History Month exhibition spotlighting 50 key sites in Britain and around the world that benefitted from the transatlantic slave economy will open in west London this Thursday and will run from 5-28 October 2023.  

The exhibition will showcase the work of the Transatlantic Trafficked Enslaved African Corrective Historical Plaques (TTEACH Plaques) initiative, founded by SOAS University of London Community Fellow Gloria Daniel.  

"50 Plaques & Places” is a ground-breaking exhibition that is an outcome of this descendant-led initiative dedicated to advocating for reparative interventions and the installation of permanent plaques.   

The TTEACH Plaques project calls for institutions who have historically honoured individuals who profited from the transportation and enslavement of African people to accurately contextualise their history.  

The origin of TTEACH Plaques and the exhibition stems from Gloria Daniel's profound journey into her family's history, guided initially by her late cousin, Jon Daniel. Their ancestral roots led them to John Isaac Daniel, a survivor of British trafficking, born into slavery under the ownership of Thomas Daniel.  

Gloria Daniel said: “50 Plaques & Places draws together multiple voices - artists, poets, and descendants of both the enslaved and enslavers. Everyday people who recognize that reparative justice cannot solely be determined by the heirs of the perpetrators. It strives to claim that space, inviting its audience to demand multiple sites of conscience.”  

This initiative has campaigned and challenged British churches, charitable societies, and institutions, including Bristol Cathedral, the Society of Merchant Venturers, The National Lottery, Historic England, The Bank of England, and Lloyds of London.  

Supported by the School of Law at SOAS, "50 Plaques & Places" will open in The Tabernacle in West London from 5 October. The exhibition shines a spotlight on 50 sites undeniably connected to the transatlantic slave economy.  

The exhibition coincides with Black History Month and serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by marginalised communities, including the Windrush Generation, and the urgent need for justice in the 21st century.  

• The exhibition will be open Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm (Closed Sundays & Mondays) at The Tabernacle 34-35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY. 
• A launch event will be held on Thursday 5 October from 7pm-9pm at the venue.