eric williams’ ‘capitalism and slavery’ makes several compelling and meticulously researched arguments—that racism was a consequence of slavery (used to justify the slave trade) not the other way around, that abolition of the slave trade was for economic rather than moral reasons, and that slavery helped fund the development of capitalism.

williams’ thesis details ideas which i see rarely get spoken about and some which i had never heard of previously. thesis being the key word here, as this work very much reads for an academic and historian audience. i’ve only read one book specifically about slavery before, and that was a memoir, so i will say that i don’t think it’s a good starting off point and i should’ve done more research before jumping straight into it. there’s a lot of data about the amount of exports and imports coming from x and going to y during z year that i definitely felt lost at points but this is the fault of myself, rather than the book.

this is definitely an imperative read for people who want to learn more about the connection slavery has to capitalism and for those who aren’t already aware of the abolitionist movement and how those in power were only against slavery that wasn’t economically viable.

“the ideas built on these interests continue long after the interests have been deployed and work their old mischief, which is all the more mischievous because the interests to which they correspond no longer exist. […] we have to guard against these old prejudices but also against the new which are being constantly created. no age is exempt.”