Amongst the Artistocracy and Underclass: The Lives of Black People and Attitudes to Race in Eighteenth Century Britain

This chapter explores the lives of Black people in the eighteenth century and how attitudes towards race shaped the conditions in which they existed. Trade links meant that the majority of Blacks were employed as servants or slaves to the upper classes or were concentrated in urban slums trying to make a living for themselves amongst the poorest of the poor. Life on two opposite ends of the spectrum meant that the circumstances in which Black people lived were marked either by comfortable servitude or excluded poverty. Black people, whether treasured pet or destitute vagabond, were unified by a struggle for self-actualisation and rights; living within a society which they were prevented from being part of. These seemingly disparate lifestyles were shaped by a set of common attitudes within Britain during the eighteenth century.

For the purpose of this chapter the term Black relates to people of African descent, either directly from Africa or the colonies. After setting the historical context the study explores the lives of Black people who lived amongst the aristocracy. The next section examines evidence relating to Black people amongst the underclass. Then the chapter explores eighteenth century attitudes to race and how these shaped the experiences of Black people at the time.