SIM Ep 898 Chops 274: How the transatlantic slave trade created modern Britain

When journalist Moya Lothian-McLean was asked whether she’d be interested in exploring the truth about Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and what that means to and for modern Britons, she didn’t need asking twice.

The resulting podcast, Human Resources, is a smart, nuanced, meticulously researched look at the realities and effects of the slave trade, the capitalist system it created, and how it’s indelibly shaped us all.

With Human Resources’ third season underway, Mick got on the Zoom to Moya to talk about why it’s so important to distinguish between the US and the UK, the connections of race and class, women slave owners (who were more numerous than you’d think), why the political is so personal to so many of us on this matter, and why ever-smaller “identity” boxes with no connection to each other are not useful for a solid society.

NB: At one point, Moya talks about Ireland and says, "I know it's not part of Britain...", which is true today – and that's what Moya is referring to – but it was under British rule when what Moya refers to happened.

Human Resources is from Broccoli Productions and available from all good podcasts apps.

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