The Postal Museum’s new exhibition, Voices of Resistance: Slavery and Post in the Caribbean, exposes how 19th century British postal services profited from and enabled transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans, by exploring the lives and legacies of those enslaved.
Opening on 5 April 2025, Voices of Resistance tells the powerful stories of enslaved women, men and children who endured exploitation and persecution in the Caribbean. It will highlight the fight for freedom and better conditions, the persecution they faced and the global impact of their legacies today.
The exhibition focuses on the island of St. Thomas, where enslaved people – predominantly women – were forced to carry heavy baskets laden with coal, to fuel ships belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMSPC). In a day, coal workers carried as much as 800 tonnes of coal, as heavy as five cars.
Packet ships transported goods, letters, and passengers between the UK and the Caribbean, enabling enslavers to manage plantations via the postal service, distancing themselves from the atrocities of transatlantic slavery.
The Postal Museum partnered closely with academics, community groups in London and the United States Virgin Islands to shape the exhibition, including the Caribbean Social Forum, Royal Mail Culture Bearers and Dollar fo’ Dollar. The museum has also commissioned new research into the lives of coal workers in partnership with a St. Thomas based historian.
Laura Wright, CEO, The Postal Museum says, “We’re immensely grateful to our partners in London and St. Thomas who have greatly enriched our exhibition’s narrative. It’s incredible that despite the brutality of their lives, enslaved people found ways to survive, and this exhibition aims to honour their voices of resistance. We hope to work with external partners in the future to develop more of our exhibitions and content.”
The exhibition features postcards, letters, paintings and clothing from the past and present, alongside newly unearthed correspondence between UK plantation owners and Caribbean managers discovered in the museum’s archives. New stories revealing moments in enslaved people’s lives, and their courageous acts of resistance, have been uncovered through a process of reading this correspondence “against the grain.”
Joanna Espin, Senior Curator, The Postal Museum says, “We have worked closely with academics and community groups to give voice and representation to African Caribbean people living with the legacy of the RMSPC operation on St. Thomas to inform and enrich the narrative around the company, the experiences of coal workers and how they are remembered today. We hope this new exhibition provides a new narrative for this story, encourages visitors to look at objects in different ways, and shines a light on those affected by postal operations.”
At the heart of the exhibition is a specially commissioned film, showing the annual celebration honouring coal workers, organised by Dollar fo’ Dollar – the St. Thomas based organisation which researches and raises awareness of the rich legacy of the island’s coal workers.
Ayesha Morris, co-founder of Dollar fo’ Dollar says, “It is a great honour to continue to celebrate the legacy of the coal workers of the Virgin Islands through an annual cultural tour over the past 20 years. The organisation aims to uplift and spread awareness of the memories of those who, basket by basket, fuelled steamships coming into the St. Thomas harbour for about a century, who courageously fought for better wages and working conditions. We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with The Postal Museum and for the chance to give an international voice to a significant piece of Virgin Islands history.”
Voices of Resistance exhibition includes:
- Filmed interviews with St. Thomas based culture bearers sharing how they honour their heritage and ancestors through creative expression
- An audio-visual piece that documents Dollar fo’ Dollar’s annual walk to celebrate the lives and legacies of coal workers enslaved on St. Thomas
- Details of the historic 1892 Coal Workers’ Strike led by Queen Coziah, a bamboula dancer, which led to better pay. A modern bamboula outfit will also be displayed
- The story of Mary Prince, who was the first known Black woman to write about a life in slavery. Her 1831 account helped change public perceptions and opinions of slavery
- An artistic response from a group of African, Caribbean and Black diaspora women working for Royal Mail in London, inspired by the stories of two enslaved women: Elizabeth who secured freedom through manumission, and Nancy who bravely protested against working conditions
- A display of baskets, inspired by those carried by the coal workers on St. Thomas, made by the Caribbean Social Forum
- Written documents by James MacQueen, pro-slavery campaigner and RMSPC founder, whose aim was to maintain power across the British Empire
- The exhibition will also uncover the operations of the RMSPC ships and life on board.
Voices of Resistance is accompanied by a rich programme of activities, inspired by the theme of resistance, including a family trail, storytelling, performance, dance and crafting. The programme is designed to enhance understanding of the stories explored and the impact of postal history on enslaved African people.
Voices of Resistance: Slavery and Post in the Caribbean is open from 5 April 2025 to 5 January 2026 and is included in a general admission ticket to the museum. Tickets include 1x ride on Mail Rail on your first visit and unlimited entry to The Postal Museum’s galleries and exhibitions for one year from the date of your first visit. Pre-booking is recommended.
For more information and to book your tickets go to The Postal Museum website.
