Many people and organizations today hold the Portuguese accountable for their role in the transatlantic slave trade. Portugal was one of the first European countries to engage in the slave trade and played a major role in its development and expansion. Portuguese traders were responsible for capturing and transporting millions of Africans across the Atlantic to be sold into slavery.
In recent years, there have been calls for Portugal to acknowledge and apologize for its role in the slave trade. In 2019, Portugal’s parliament passed a law allowing descendants of enslaved Africans to apply for Portuguese citizenship, a move that was seen as a small step toward reparations for the harm caused by the slave trade. However, some critics argue that this is not enough and that more needs to be done to address the historical legacy of slavery and racism in Portugal.
In addition to calls for acknowledgment and reparations, there has also been a push to highlight the contributions of African culture and history to Portugal and the world. In 2021, Lisbon opened the Museum of Resistance and Freedom, which is dedicated to the history of African resistance to slavery and colonialism in Portugal and its former colonies.
Overall, while there is ongoing debate about the extent of Portugal’s responsibility for the transatlantic slave trade and what actions should be taken to address its legacy, it is clear that the country played a significant role in the development and perpetuation of the trade, and that its effects continue to be felt today.
