Barbados is in the process of seeking reparations from those who have grown rich and prospered through the slave trade over the centuries. The small Caribbean island, which separated from the yoke of the British Crown in November 2021, therefore intends to cash in on the descendants of slavers… and among those who may soon be targeted is actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
The British comedian has revealed to the general public of sherlock comes from a powerful family and counts among his ancestors the owner of a sugar plantation in Barbados, who exploited dozens of slaves in the 18th century. “Descendants of White Plantation Owners Who Benefited from the Slave Trade Should Pay Reparations” said David Denny, secretary general of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, “and that includes the Cumberbatch family”.
An embarrassing past (and name) for Benedict Cumberbatch
It was 2014 when the release of 12 years a slavea film by Steve McQueen, in which he embodies plantation owner in Louisianathat information had been revealed about the genealogy of the Cumberbatch family and especially about the origin of his inheritance and fortune.
Also, Benedict Cumberbatch confessed that he was deceived by his mother, actress Wanda Ventham (wait again nepo child !) to use another name to launch his acting career… precisely to avoid being caught by the jacket on his family’s past slavery.
“We have our past – you don’t have to look far to see this past of slavery, we were part of the whole sugar industry, which is a shock”acknowledged the actor in 2018 in an interview with Telegram.
A British Conservative MP is already in the crosshairs of compensation claims from Barbados, as well as Jamaica. Richard Drax, this is his name, in fact owns family properties that were farms where women and men forcibly brought from the African continent were reduced to slavery. In case of refusal, Barbados plans to take its request to an international tribunal.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore of Peoria, AZ, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Madmoizelle
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
