Slavery

Samuel Ike, dressed in the role of Revolutionary War-era African American abolitionist Prince Hall.

The history of enslavement at Boston’s Freedom Trail sites is beginning to be told

History

Boston is a cradle of American history, and 4 million people a year visit the historic churches, graveyards and parks that make up the Freedom Trail to learn more about the country’s origins. But rarely do they hear the underbelly of that story: that slavery touched nearly every aspect of the society and the economy of Massachusetts during that period of time. But that is now changing.

A life-size replica of a slave ship graces the Marina Project in Benin.

Benin is building a theme park to remember slavery — is history up for sale?

History
Migrants make their way to the checkpoint "Kuznitsa" at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus

EU places new sanctions on entities facilitating migration to Belarus

Top of The World
São Sebastião Fort and Museum with statues of conquistadors São Tomé.

‘Born in Blackness’: A new book centers Africa in the expansive history of slavery

History
A mural in Cartagena's Getsemani Neighborhood celebrates the city's Afro-Colombian heritage and the natural hairstyles of Black women

Reclaiming Colombia’s Black history, one tour at a time

History
Tronco, or multiple foot stocks used to to constrain enslaved people

The Netherlands hosts a new slavery exhibit, as historical debates continue 

History

“Slavery,” a new exhibit at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, tells the stories of 10 individuals who were involved in slavery under Dutch colonial rule.

In this Sept. 1, 2016 file photo, a Jesuit statue is seen in front of Freedom Hall, formerly named Mulledy Hall, on the Georgetown University campus in Washington. 

‘Our goal is to heal’: Jesuits and descendants of the enslaved reflect on landmark agreement

Justice

The Jesuits are pledging to donate $100 million to a newly created Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. They also plan to raise $1 billion in scholarships for future descendants and fund a process of truth and reconciliation in the US. 

Former mayor of London Boris Johnson, right, is seen by a maquette of a statue that stands as a permanent slavery memorial statue at City Hall in London, Aug. 18, 2008.

Lloyd’s of London examines its ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade 

History

The company wants to hire an archivist to examine its collection of 3,000 insurance relics to suss out connections to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Several people are shown in a small courtyard where a statue of Edward Colston once stood and all that remains is the concrete base.

Felling of slave trader statue prompts fresh look at British history

Protest

The toppling by anti-racism protesters of a statue of a slave trader in the English port city of Bristol has given new urgency to a debate about how Britain should confront some of the darkest chapters of its history.

A group of military men stand in a line with their weapons.

Analysis: Who joins rebel armies?

Critical State

Trying to figure out who actually does the fighting in civil wars — and why they join — is an ongoing challenge for conflict scholars.