Sheffield community group calls for 'education, communication and action' following Black Lives Matter protests

A group which works to maintain the legacy of a pioneering Sheffield anti-slavery campaigner has called for the city to ‘listen to black communities’ on how to best educate and communicate with people about racism following the Black Lives Matter protests.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Thousands gathered in Sheffield city centre to take part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations at the weekend (June 6).

Following the demonstrations, a debate has been organised by activists and community groups to address how to best educate people about Sheffield’s history in relation to black lives and slavery.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It comes after some called for a statue to be erected depicting Mary Anne Rawson – the co-founder of the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Association – which was the first group in the country to call for the immediate abolition of slavery.

Mary Anne Rawson, who founded the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery SocietyMary Anne Rawson, who founded the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Society
Mary Anne Rawson, who founded the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Society

These calls prompted backlash from many, who said that a statue or commemorate the work of white women was not the right thing to do.

The Charity of Mary Anne Rawson, which works in communities to continue their namesake’s legacy as well as supporting charities which help victims of modern slavery, has opposed the statue idea and said ‘education, communication and action’ as the best way to celebrate the work of the pioneering anti-slavery campaigner.

Penny Rea, trustee of the charity, said: “While it is excellent that the work of these women is at last recognised, I think a statue is the last thing they would have wanted as a memorial. And in any case, why would it be appropriate to honour these white middle-class women in the context of Black Lives Matter?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“What Mary Anne Rawson and the SFASA would have preferred to see was communication and education work. They would prefer their legacy to be discussion because they believed in education, and they would want change because they believed in action.

“She is known for going into communities and knocking on doors to speak to people and to make sure they understood what they were campaigning for.

“So the best thing we can do is listen to black communities. We need to learn what is needed and what we can do to help and promote history and to understand the problems that are faced.

“I think the online debate that is being hosted by local activist Nadia Jama and SADACCA’s Rob Cotterell is a good place to start. We need to listen and we need to be open to making a change.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The online debate is taking place today (June 12) at 7pm via Zoom.

Founded in 1825, in part by Sheffield woman Mary Anne Rawson, the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Society was the first group in the country to campaign specifically for an immediate end to slavery, rather than a gradual one. It began this campaign in 1827.

They operated by giving lectures and distributing pamphlets, and one of their major achievements was to reduce the sales of goods produced by slaves in the West Indies, such as sugar and coffee, by organising a boycott.