It's a great museum - as is the one on the opposite side of the dock about the social history of Liverpool. But yeah, there is definitely a reluctance to talk about the slave trade here in the UK - which is a real problem because discussion is what is needed. It's part of our history for good and for bad. Somerset v Steward (1776) set the scene for us Brits to diverge away from the US and take a different stance on slavery - evident by 1807.... many formerly enslaved people made their way to Liverpool which has a high ethnically black population relative to its size for the UK, same as Bristol and many port cities on that side of the country.

I would say it's difficult to separate European politics away from the French Revolution and what was happening in Haiti at the time. I think there are interesting parallels to be drawn between what was happening then and what's happening now with the discourse on either legal or illegal immigration. It's not exactly the same as the slave trade but there are some interesting parallels. The plight of people with other skin colours, instability and revolution in far off climes and the right wing hijacking the discourse to convince the poor that the even worse off brown-folks are somehow stealing their livelihoods.

Much to ponder on. :o)