Kingston College A Level Sociology students recently took part in an enriching and thought-provoking visit to the ’London, Sugar and Slavery’ exhibition at the London Museum Docklands. The exhibition offers a powerful and unflinching look at London’s central role in the transatlantic slave trade and the far-reaching legacy it continues to have on society today.
As part of their curriculum exploring social inequality, power structures and historical injustices, the visit provided students with a deeper and more personal understanding of how slavery shaped not only Britain’s economy but also its social fabric. The exhibition, housed in one of London’s oldest surviving warehouses built by enslaved labour profits, uses original artefacts, survivor accounts and multimedia displays to trace the journey from enslavement to emancipation—and beyond.
Students reflected on how this hidden history is still deeply woven into the inequalities and systemic issues they study in class. The visit sparked meaningful discussions around race, class, privilege and the ways in which history continues to inform modern society.
Sociology Lecturer, Laura Male, said: “The Sugar and Slavery exhibition brought to life the historical foundations of the topics we cover in our course. It gave students a chance to engage critically with real-world material and encouraged them to ask deeper questions about the present. The visit not only enriched students’ academic understanding but also reinforced the importance of remembering and confronting uncomfortable truths in the pursuit of social justice.”
