P.O.V. | Traces of the Trade | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/tracesofthetrade/ First-time filmmaker Katrina Browne makes a troubling discovery - her New England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine fellow descendants set off to retrace the Triangle Trade: from their old hometown in Rhode Island to slave forts in Ghana to sugar plantation ruins in Cuba. Step by step, they uncover the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery while also stumbling through the minefield of contemporary race relations. In this bicentennial year of the U.S. abolition of the slave trade, "Traces of the Trade" offers powerful new perspectives on the black/white divide. An official selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Find out more about this film: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/tracesofthetrade/

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Broadcast Date: June 24, 2008
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Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• documentary
• trailer
• slavery
• united
• states
• Rhode
• Island
• Ghana
• Cuba
• slave
• trade
• race
• relations
• Browne
• DeWolf
• P.O

[rcjlive26]

The film was great. Needs to be made of part of the educational system. So many lies have been told about slavery, its good to see a white family come forth and tell what part their family played in the spread of slavery. I also like how they tried to get a diolog started between whites and blacks, I hope it works. We will never get everyone involved but as was stated in the film if we can start with those who care, that will help.

[turbojettsixtyfo]

My wife and I watched this film. We grew up in New York's Hudson Valley in the 60s and 70s and have felt we are open to trying to understand cultural and racial backgrounds; however we were moved by this story and appreciate the filmers for dealing head-on with the issue. We are considering our attitudes and what we can do within our community and Church to sit with these images. Perhaps the film is available to open a dialogue - as it was brought up during the campaign

Dan Paashaus

[airyakashawty]

@SunnOrion no they didn't that is told in schools because who wants to accept blame for human trafficking? look at every text book about history you ever read if it is written by the person who won then it is sanitized and of course its going to make themself look like a saint or hro the slave trade was wrong and tje statement u wrote is false look it up and read and you will see that ur statement is wrong

[airyakashawty]

Ms.Katrina did a great job on this film it should have gotten more notice and should be put in school systems

[airyakashawty]

its so funny how much @SunnOrion doesn't Know about the TRUE UNSANITIZED history did u know that the Portugese were the 1st to start slave trade because in Africa when others (un-natives)vist there land they are to welcome them and treat them how they would want to be treated in there land & Europeans began to take advantage of that Knowing that the Africans had no guns or weapons that they had so they expolited them but if You read a history book it wont state that.Know the true history 1st

[Scottyhutch1]

@SunnOrion If I sold you my family member would it be alright? It does not take two

[cuzcatlan36]

look for the names of the slaves and their descendants and give then all money back for the suffering.

[hatie3]

@SunnOrion where did u guys get this story from

[Raybanmonster]

@SunnOrion

Get an education, they came from all angles with deceptive ploys using religion and bribery and clearly the force of weapons. Accept the horror of it. People trafficking it happened and you seem to be in denial it did

[macewindu67]

Ok just like Bin Laden Family and Bush family had business dealings together. lol. Even if black tribal leaders sold every african into slavery it does not give you white devils a free pass. I doubt if your broke ass ancestors owned slaves anyway you all was probably sharecropping and picking cotton right along side of my people. lol

[SunnOrion]

zing zat

[SunnOrion]

Black tribe leaders in Africa sold their own people to white Europeans. It takes two.