Daily Politics from the New Statesman Has history overlooked the enslaved who fought for freedom? | Sudhir Hazareesingh interview
Sep 20, 2025
Sudhir Hazareesingh, a historian and politics tutor at Oxford University, delves into the often-overlooked role of the enslaved in their own emancipation. He uncovers stories of resistance dating back to the 1500s, challenging the conventional narrative of abolition. Hazareesingh discusses spiritual arguments for freedom drawn from Christian, Islamic, and indigenous traditions. He contrasts ideas of individual rights with African concepts of collective autonomy, and explores the implications of these histories for modern discussions on reparations and unity in contemporary movements.
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Early Anti‑Slavery Thought In Africa
- Africans used varied spiritual and legal arguments against slavery, including Christian natural-law petitions.
- Hazareesingh highlights Lorenzo da Silva Mendonça's 17th-century petition to the Vatican as evidence.
Multiple Spiritual Sources Of Resistance
- Spiritual resistance drew from Christianity, Islam, and indigenous African religions (obia) rather than solely European ideas.
- These religious strands shaped anti-slavery revolts and influenced movements in places like Brazil.
Freedom As Autonomy, Not Only Rights
- Freedom can be framed as collective autonomy rather than solely individual rights.
- Hazareesingh shows many African communities valued communal autonomy, shaping transplanted ideas of freedom.
