Entangled Past: how descendants of enslaved and enslavers in Grenada embarked on journey of repair
When Grenadian historian Nicole Phillip received an email from BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan in 2022, it sparked a journey of acknowledgment and repair between descendants of enslaved Africans and British enslavers.
Their ancestors had stood on opposite sides of enslavement in Grenada: Phillip's among Africans forcibly taken from their homes and enslaved, Trevelyan's among the British families who profited from a system that inflicted unspeakable cruelty and generations of suffering. This connection uncovered by Phillip and Trevelyan has become a powerful case study for how reparations can work in practice.
Trevelyan first discovered her family's involvement in enslavement when a cousin identified their ancestors as enslavers in a University College London database. Her research revealed the Trevelyans had held shares in Grenada plantations and enslaved more than 1,000 people, later receiving compensation when slavery was abolished.
Uncomfortable Journey
The reconciliation process wasn't smooth. Trevelyan described tough conversations with family members who disagreed with apologizing, feeling it was irrelevant to them. Some worried about potential lawsuits, questioning why Britain's government had never apologized for slavery.
When Trevelyan traveled to Grenada in 2023 for the apology ceremony, she felt 'extremely anxious and trepidatious.' A driver warned her about Rastafarian protesters who were 'denouncing your apology' on the radio. The ceremony itself featured protesters waving placards reading 'Why sell us out again?' and 'No house slave cannot negotiate for the Rastaman.'
There were family members who disagreed entirely with the idea of apologising, feeling that it was nothing to do with them, all a long time ago, why dig up the past, and no good could come of it.
Reparations in Action
The Trevelyan family established the Trevelyan Grenada Reparations Fund with a £100,000 payment to support university education for Grenadian students, particularly from parishes where the Trevelyans part-owned sugar plantations. Many recipients are the first in their families to attend university, often coming from households where women are the breadwinners.
Arley Gill, chair of Grenada's reparations commission, acknowledged the sum was 'a drop in the ocean' but emphasized it was a step in the right direction following the Caribbean Community's 10-point plan for reparations. He highlighted that the dialogue was conducted on mutual respect, with the Trevelyan family 'not talking down to us.'
Model for the Future
Their new book, 'Entangled Past,' outlines this journey as a model for others. The publication coincided with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing Britain would enter a structured dialogue with Caribbean nations over reparations, though he ruled out financial reparations while being open to a formal apology.
For Phillip, conversation remains essential despite the painful process. 'Not talking about something doesn't make it go away. It doesn't help with healing,' she said. 'Conversation is a way of reconciling with the past and trying to find ways to move forward.'
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