Anti-Slavery Medallion 1787

This is the Anti-Slavery Medallion, made by the Wedgwood Manufactory, though the precise date of its creation is unknown. This small, but potent, object emerged during the height of the abolitionist movement in England. The medallion depicts a Black man, kneeling in chains, his hands clasped in what appears to be prayer. Encircling him is the inscription, “Am I Not a Man and a Brother?” This phrase became a rallying cry for abolitionists, challenging the dehumanization of enslaved people. Wedgwood, a prominent pottery manufacturer, produced these medallions to be worn as symbols of solidarity and protest against the institution of slavery. Consider the complexities inherent in this image. Produced by a white-owned company, the medallion aimed to evoke empathy and action. But how might the enslaved person depicted here have felt about being reduced to a symbol? Did it perpetuate existing stereotypes? This medallion compels us to confront the uncomfortable questions about representation, agency, and the emotional weight of historical trauma.