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Abolition and Anti-slavery Movements in Leeds
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'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' Abolitionist Token

A circular anti-slavery token, like a coin or a medal, with image of a kneeling African enslaved person in chains, and the slogan ‘Am I not a woman and sister?’ The kneeling enslaved person is the enduring image of the abolitionist movement, made into porcelain medallions by Wedgewood, minted into metal coins like this one and printed on abolitionist propaganda material,

The more common version of this token is of a man kneeling, with the words 'Am I not a man and a brother?' Why do you think the male version was more commonly used than the female version?

More recently, the image has been criticised for depicting enslaved Africans as passive figures, pleading to the British for their freedom. It does not recognise the role of enslaved and formerly enslaved people in fighting against slavery and the slave trade

Image © Five Colleges and Historic Deerfield Museum Consortium