Emancipation, the early Village Movement and Buxton

A member of the Kru nation from what is now Sierra Leone. Some of the Kru who came here in the 19th century, gravitated to piloting boats on the hinterland rivers. They were comfortable on water, given their long experience of serving with the Royal Navy.

By Cecilia McAlmont

 This is an edited version of a ‘History This Week’ article which first appeared in Stabroek News on July 29, 2010

The Emancipation Act which was passed by the British Parliament in 1833 came after more than four decades of agitation and setbacks by the British Anti-Slavery movement. It was launched by Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharpe and other Quakers in 1788. It also came as a result of the activities of what Beckles, Hart, Williams and other Caribbean historians