Very early on Saturday morning I decided to travel into London. It has been 4.5 months since I was last in town. Normally I would go into London two or three times a week. As you can see the train was almost empty, probably because it was just after 7am. When I left the station the only people I saw were security guards, builders and a few homeless people. During the Covid crisis, the homeless were found places to stay in hostels or hotels but some people can't cope being trapped inside four walls. I did chat to one man who said he was happier living outside on the streets.
My plan was to walk to Whitechapel, the next underground station I wanted to visit. This meant a walk through the City of London, the financial district, which is always quiet on a Saturday anyway. I walked through Fen Court which I hadn't noticed before. Fen Court is the site of a churchyard ' St Gabriel's of Fenchurch Street'. In the centre was a sculpture that I found intriguing. It is called 'Gilt of Cain' by Michael Visocchi and Lemn Sissay. It was unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 2008. The sculpture commemorates the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, which began the process of the emancipation of slaves throughout the British Empire.
The collaboration of the sculptor and the poet (I think) were trying to link history with the present day as there is a connection between the abolitionist movement and the rector of St Mary Woolnoth. John Newton,, who was the rector from 1780 to 1807 was a slave trader who became a preacher and abolitionist, working alongside William Wilberforce.
The sculpture is composed of granite columns surrounding a podium which looks like a church pulpit or that of a slave auctioneer's stand. The columns surround the podium like a congregation. Extracts from Lemn Sissay's poem 'The gilt of Cain' are engraved on the columns. The poem cleverly intertwines the modern language of the stock exchange with that of the Old Testament
The Gilt of Cain
By Lemn Sissay, 2007
By Lemn Sissay, 2007
Here is the ask price on the closed position,
history is no inherent acquisition
for here the Technical Correction upon the act,
a merger of truth and in actual fact
on the spot, on the money – the spread.
The dealer lied when the dealer said
the bull was charging the bear was dead,
the market must calculate per capita, not head.
history is no inherent acquisition
for here the Technical Correction upon the act,
a merger of truth and in actual fact
on the spot, on the money – the spread.
The dealer lied when the dealer said
the bull was charging the bear was dead,
the market must calculate per capita, not head.
And great traders acting in concert, arms rise
as the actuals frought on the sea of franchise
thrown overboard into the exchange to drown
in distressed brokers disconsolate frown.
In Accounting liquidity is a mounting morbidity
but raising the arms with such rigid rapidity…
Oh the reaping the raping rapacious fluidity.
the violence the vicious and vexed volatility.
as the actuals frought on the sea of franchise
thrown overboard into the exchange to drown
in distressed brokers disconsolate frown.
In Accounting liquidity is a mounting morbidity
but raising the arms with such rigid rapidity…
Oh the reaping the raping rapacious fluidity.
the violence the vicious and vexed volatility.
The roaring trade floor rises above crashing waves:
the traders buy ships, beneath the slaves.
Sway machete back, sway machete again
cut back the Sugar Rush, Cain.
The whipsaw it’s all and the whip saw it all
The rising market and the cargo fall
Who’ll enter “Jerusalem” make the margin call for Abel?
Who will kick over the stall and turn the table?
the traders buy ships, beneath the slaves.
Sway machete back, sway machete again
cut back the Sugar Rush, Cain.
The whipsaw it’s all and the whip saw it all
The rising market and the cargo fall
Who’ll enter “Jerusalem” make the margin call for Abel?
Who will kick over the stall and turn the table?
Cain gathers cane as gilt-gift to his land
But whose sword of truth shall not sleep in hand?
Who shall unlock the stocks and share?
Break the bond the bind unbound - lay bare
The Truth. Cash flow runs deep but spirit deeper
You ask Am I my brothers keeper?
I answer by nature by spirit by rightful laws
My name, my brother, Wilberforce.
But whose sword of truth shall not sleep in hand?
Who shall unlock the stocks and share?
Break the bond the bind unbound - lay bare
The Truth. Cash flow runs deep but spirit deeper
You ask Am I my brothers keeper?
I answer by nature by spirit by rightful laws
My name, my brother, Wilberforce.
This project was initiated by Black British Heritage and the Parish of St Mary Woolnoth and was commissioned by the City of London Corporation in partnership with the British Land Company.
The podium was cleverly thought-out sculpture! I wonder why Newton changed his view on slavery and life, and I wonder why Wilberforce trusted his new colleague.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Thank you so much for sharing this interesting bit of history.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a sculpture I knew of - there's so much in the City, tucked away, and it's hard to keep up now I'm not there very often. Whilst the African slave trade was a disgusting episode in our global history, we also need to focus on modern slavery that is happening now - as well as plain exploitation in the workplace.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good find. We can catch an empty tram to our empty city, but why? There is no reason to. We can't sit. We have to be masked and worse, there aren't bustling crowds.
ReplyDeleteThat poem is really very clever wordplay and says so much ..,it can be admired on so many levels. I would like to hear it read aloud (I’m thinking a voice such as James Earl Jones)..... .......so glad you are able to get on the bus again .., and look forward to the next above ground adventure too.
ReplyDeleteYou find the most interesting things :)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice start to your day, with no crowds of people around. The podium sculpture is beautifully done. The financial district and the Fen Court look well cared for, nice benches and trees. Take care! Enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!
A very fitting monument for the times.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point "The sculpture commemorates the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, which began the process of the emancipation of slaves throughout the British Empire." Even back then we recognised that the slave trade was not the best way ahead and tried to amend that. Unfortunately the useful idiots who try to rewrite history on behalf of the Communist Party have never studied history, or indeed anything useful. A degree in "David Beckham Studies" or "Diversity" doesn't really equip these loonies for real life.
ReplyDeleteInteresting finds. It never bodes well to treat any human as property, although it will take more generations yet for truly just societies to prevail.
ReplyDeletegood to remember the end of the slavery practice, a dark time
ReplyDeleteHi There, I know how you feel about 'cooped up' inside for several months.... Other than the grocery store once a week and our doctor's visits, we have done very little.. We finally took a short trip June and will take one in August.. BUT--we are still being extremely careful not to get in crowds. When one loves being out in nature as much as we do, we can usually find things to do which don't involve being around too many people.
ReplyDeleteYou picked a great time to get back to London. I know how much you must have enjoyed it on a Saturday morning!!!!! Hope you can do it again soon!
Have an awesome week.
Hugs,
Betsy
Haunting.
ReplyDelete