One of the consequences of the persecution of the Jews in Europe, particularly by the inquisition in Portugal and Spain, is that many Jewish people fled to West Africa and the Americas. Thus the Portugese term
Lançados (thrown out ones) refers to people mostly of Jewish or Muslim background with varying degrees of Christian assimilation who fled Portugal and settled in West Africa. Here they integrated into the African communities, many developing elite status, marrying African royalty and acting as intermediaries with the Portuguese traders, whether dealing in slaves or other commodities.
"I have been spat at and beaten by racists. I have marched against the fascists, defended minorities, am of Jewish decent as is my partner. If they can do this to me they can do it to anyone."
I would be interested to hear other peoples opinions.
There was some Jewish involvement in the slave trade, mostly concentrated in the Dutch trade. But Jews were not its main funders, and exaggerations of their role have been used to foster broader hostility to Jews at times. In the English trade (the biggest), the Royal African Company was established primarily with the royal family's money. Investors in English ships were mainly English (non-Jewish) merchants. Jews had been expelled from England in the Middle Ages and there were only a small number in the country at the time.
'Court Jews' refers to a mainly Central European phenomenon, not to the maritime powers.
Best wishes
Diana Paton
Sent from my iPad
Jason's posting included:
'...Stating the fact that Jews financed the slave trade, is no less a truth than stating that African chiefs and Muslims traded slaves with Europeans. In no way is this antiJewish or antiSemitic...'
It would be wrong for anyone to be accused of anti-Semitism if he or she said that Jewish bankers financed the transatlantic slave trade. I am interested to read the full charge against Jackie Walker, as this becomes a serious matter.
arthur
Thanks. Yes, the Jews were the 'bankers'.... So they were much needed...
We must be careful not to confuse 'anti-semitism' with anti-Israelism. I am a Jew and totally against Israel and what it is doing to Palestinians....
As I am sure you have heard, Jackie Walker, vice chair of Labour's Momentum Movement, has been suspended for 'antiSemitism'.
I'm not going to get into the tautology of Semites also being Arabs and Palestinians, but this latest smear of 'antiSemitism' against a Labour member, is another knee-jerk reaction to what is often referred to as Jewish 'persecution complex'.
The fact is, for over 800 years, 'Court Jews', as they were referred to, were the financiers of European aristocracy, funding palaces, wars, global trade, mercantilism, state building, and also slavery.
Unlike Muslims and Christians, Jews were the only ones in European society, who were commonly permitted to participate in 'usury'.
Stating the fact that Jews financed the slave trade, is no less a truth than stating that African chiefs and Muslims traded slaves with Europeans. In no way is this antiJewish or antiSemitic.
Please share this with your networks and media contacts. Black communities of the UK need to respond to these false claims of antiSemitism that have been laid against Jackie Walker.
Your assistance and support in doing so is much appreciated.
Regards,
Jason Schumann