University of Plymouth Press

Cargo; excavating the contemporary legacy of the transatlantic slave trade in Plymouth and Devon.

The Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery's exhibition Human Cargo marked the 200th anniversary of the 1807 Act of Abolition, which made it illegal for British nationals to be involved in the transatlantic slave trade. This work offers a collection of essays and photos on the exhibition and on related projects and educational activities conducted at UK museums in honor of the 200th anniversary. Essays examine the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade in the present-day forms of forced labor and the implications of modern consumerism, and shed light on current art and museum practices related to the history of the slave trade. An ongoing timeline across the bottom of every page throughout the book highlights important events from 1400 to the present. The book offers a wealth of color and b&w historical and contemporary illustrations and photos, including maps, works of art, antiquities, art exhibits, and archival material. Pole is a museum curator. Shearman is a contemporary art curator. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)