Tapestry, 19th century

Women could not be elected to public office to become Members of Parliament or vote in political elections, but they made their views public in many different ways.

Women boycotted products such as sugar made by enslaved Africans and wore badges, medallions and necklaces such as those made by Josiah Wedgwood featuring a kneeling slave figure and the slogan ‘Am I not a Man and a Brother?

Women also made bags and tapestries such as this one to demonstrate their anti-slavery views. This tapestry shows the kneeling slave figure and the inscription is from the first verse of a poem titled, ‘Desponding Negro’ by John Collins (1742-1808)