» My London/Liverpool /London Experience
This is the first blog post in a series written by Georgette Mayo, Avery Research Center’s Processing Archivist, reflecting on her trip to London and Liverpool in October 2024.
Recently, I participated in an eight-person delegation to travel to London and tour the museums and libraries in Liverpool, UK. The whirlwind five-day outreach tour was intellectually enriching and intense in conjunction with the National Museums Liverpool and the Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. The objective of this tour was to “re-establish these historical linkages between Liverpool, London, and Charleston, South Carolina, in a contemporary context while providing special networking opportunities.”1 We also learned about the International Slavery Museum’s significance and upcoming building expansion. It did not escape the delegates that we were visiting the UK during their Black History Month in October.
Due to its expansive port system, by the 1780s, Liverpool became the European capital of the transatlantic slave trade. As many already know, Charleston also played a significant part as a port city, receiving many imported enslaved Africans coming against their will to this “New World.” The connection is strong as Liverpool and Charleston grew wealthy from the transport and receipt of African people. Today, Liverpool is grappling with its past and working on acknowledging and making amends.
This is the first in a series of blog entries discussing my experience, observations, and reflections. Admittedly, the United Kingdom, especially Liverpool’s history and its significant role in the transatlantic slave trade, is new to me. This experience also left me asking numerous questions, which motivated me to conduct further research to understand better the nuanced history of enslavement and how we, as public history professionals, interpret and portray it to our audiences.
Footnote
- From the delegation letter sent by Dr. Kim Cliett Long, August 2024.