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EXCL: Dozens of UK organisations have endorsed mock slave auctions for “depraved” entertainment purposes. "These are a re-enactment of the most evil part of British history" and "shouldn’t be revered," @NoSlaveAuctions told me. Now leading on @HuffPostUK: http://huffp.st/O3vFodL
Interestingly, one charity spokesperson – who agreed to remove endorsement of mock slave auctions from its website – implied it was a non-issue. I'm not sure what the appeal with slave auctions is. But being a descendent of slaves...I probably wouldn't. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
Anyway: research by @NoSlaveAuctions + my findings suggest mock slave auction fundraisers are something of a tradition across parts of the country, spanning at least 15 years. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
Charities including Comic Relief, Marie Curie and an @NHS non-profit group have all been embroiled in this scandal, as well as a number of rural grammar schools and a @UniofOxford college. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
Box Hill School in Surrey donated the proceeds of its 2013 slave auction to Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund ( @NMCF). Mandela was a descendent of slaves and remains an internationally renowned figure in the end of colonial apartheid regime in South Africa. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
“Asking people to play-act traumatic history trivialises the experiences of the enslaved, turning them into a spectacle to be consumed by the audience," said Dr @KatieDonington, describing the practice as "unacceptable". https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
Last year Adcote School advertised a mock slave auction for Red Nose Day. The proceeds of the event went to @comicrelief. When approached by @HuffPostUK, both organisations apologised; Comic Relief said it'll return the money to Adcote. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/mock-slave-auctions-charity-schools_uk_5eeb1e9bc5b62f0dd234a6ff
