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Same Systems of Domination, Same Violence: Why the Transatlantic Slave Trade Must Matter to Southeast Asians

  • Writer: Manushya Foundation
    Manushya Foundation
  • Mar 25
  • 4 min read

25 March is internationally recognised as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.


This day is known officially by the UN as the ‘International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.’ We choose to use and emphasise the terms “enslaved” and “enslavement,” as part of ongoing Black-led efforts to decolonise language.


The terms “slave” and “slavery” reduce people to identities imposed through violence. In contrast, “enslaved” centres the act of enslavement, and the systems and actors responsible, while affirming the full humanity of those affected.


We remain committed to learning from and being accountable to these evolving conversations. Please see this post by the Underground Railroad Project for more information.


🌍 Centuries of colonial oppression


As part of their colonial projects between the 16th and 20th centuries, European and North American powers subjugated, kidnapped, and “enslaved” at least 13 million African peoples, alongside countless other colonised communities.


They were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, and made to endure dehumanising and exploitative labour that built the foundations of what we now know as the economies of the Global North.


While colonialism in Africa and the Caribbean took different forms from colonialism in Asia, it was driven by the same systems, actors, and logics of extraction that were imposed on our Southeast Asian ancestors as well.


⛓️ No reparations, no justice, no peace


This vast wealth accumulation was made possible through uncompensated labour. The same wealth that continues to shape global inequalities today.


Despite centuries of performative efforts to “end slavery,” true justice remains out of reach. Meaningful reparations have yet to be delivered to the communities most affected.

If we are truly committed to decolonization, we must not treat the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a closed chapter of history.

Enslavement continues to manifest in different forms today, including mass incarceration, systemic racism, and forced labour impacting Black and brown communities worldwide.

  • Mass incarceration and the prison-industrial complex: These systems are extensions of colonial structures of control. Black and brown communities, particularly in countries like the UK and USA, are disproportionately targeted, criminalised, and exploited.

  • Systemic racism fuels inequality: Systemic racism continues to dehumanise Black and brown communities, reinforcing inequity and enabling exploitation with impunity.

  • Forced labour persists today: Both “legal” and “illegal” forms of forced labour still exist. Across the Global South, people are exploited to sustain global supply chains and elite consumption, often under conditions that violate their fundamental human rights.


🌏 South-to-South Solidarity


We must recognise our shared responsibility to uplift African, Caribbean, Black, brown, and Indigenous communities impacted by colonial violence and its ongoing legacies.

Standing in solidarity means more than acknowledgement, it requires action.


  1. Listen to and amplify marginalised voices

    Mainstream histories are often written by colonisers, shaping narratives that erase or distort the experiences of those most affected. We must actively listen to marginalised voices, and use our platforms to amplify them, especially when they are being silenced.

  2. Learning and unlearning is essential

    Much of what we know about history has been shaped by colonial narratives. Challenging these narratives allows us to show up more meaningfully and responsibly for affected communities.


    There is always more to learn. And more to unlearn.


Resources to get started:

  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

  • Black History Unveiled podcast by Amat Levin

  • 13th: From Slave to Criminal in One Amendment

  • High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

These works highlight histories, lived experiences, and cultural resilience often erased from dominant narratives.

  1. Learn the histories of others, and your own

Actively seek out stories that have been silenced or suppressed.


At the same time, reflect on your own place within global histories of power and inequality. What responsibilities do you hold? What histories shape your present?


Understanding this is key to building meaningful solidarity.


To begin, visit enslaved.org and learn about the lives of those who were “enslaved”, honouring their humanity beyond the violence they endured.

  1. Take action: Grieve the dead, fight for the living


Many victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade were never given the justice they deserve, nor were their descendants.


Honouring them means more than remembrance. It means showing up: supporting community-led movements, participating in teach-ins, and following the leadership of those directly impacted.


At the same time, we must celebrate Black and brown joy and culture.


Despite centuries of violence, these communities continue to create, resist, and thrive. Joy is not separate from resistance, it is part of it.


🌏 Our struggles are interconnected


We live in a deeply interconnected world.


To confront injustice in our own communities, we must also recognise how it is tied to oppression elsewhere, even across oceans.


There is no space for neutrality. Solidarity is is necessary.



REFERENCES:


 
 
 

2 Comments

镇华 莫
镇华 莫
18 hours ago

This is such an important topic to reflect on. It's hard to believe how much history still shapes our world today. By the way, if you're planning any events or projects related to this, you might want to check out weeks from now to help with scheduling. It's a handy tool!

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showen
showen
Mar 27

thank u, i like play eggy car

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