This poem was written after being asked to write 'a balanced summary' about the transatlantic slave trade as part of a school history assessment. Every negative aspect of the western-generated slave trade was cushioned by a reference to the fact that a small number of African chiefs were complicit in capturing other tribal members for sale to slave traders. There can ever be any justification,' balanced' or otherwise, of the mass exploitation of human beings.

Why do you ask this of me?
Sir, why do you ask this of me?
To justify slavery
It will hurt me to write
What I think is not right
It’ll make my heart heavy
So I will never be ready
To justify slavery

By Dareece James © 02.04.09