An 86-year-old French man has made history by delivering what appears to be the nation’s first formal family apology for ancestral involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, expressing hope that others will follow his lead.
Pierre Guillon de Prince’s forebears operated out of Nantes, which served as France’s primary hub for the slave trade, where they owned ships that forcibly carried approximately 4,500 enslaved Africans across the Atlantic and maintained plantation operations in Caribbean territories.
The elderly man emphasized that other French families need to acknowledge their historical connections to slavery, while urging the government to move beyond symbolic actions toward meaningful remedies, including financial reparations.
“Faced with the rise of racism in our society, I felt a responsibility not to let this past be erased,” Guillon de Prince explained, noting his desire to ensure his grandchildren understand their family’s history.
The apology took place at a ceremony in Nantes during the unveiling of an 18-meter ship mast replica, where he appeared alongside Dieudonné Boutrin, whose ancestors were enslaved on the Caribbean island of Martinique.
Both men collaborate through Coque Nomade-Fraternité, an organization committed to ending the silence surrounding slavery’s legacy, describing the memorial mast as a symbol of human compassion.
“Many families of descendants of slave traders don’t dare speak out for fear of reopening old wounds and anger,” Boutrin, 61, observed. “Pierre’s apology is a courageous act.”
Historical records show that between the 15th and 19th centuries, European vessels forcibly transported at least 12.5 million abducted Africans, with French ships accounting for an estimated 1.3 million victims.
This gesture mirrors comparable formal acknowledgments made by families in Britain and other nations, which typically include commitments to help address the damage caused by their ancestors’ actions.
While France officially classified transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001, the country has never issued a formal governmental apology for its participation, unlike some other European nations.
President Emmanuel Macron has increased public access to colonial archives during his presidency and announced plans last year to create a commission examining France’s relationship with Haiti, though he avoided mentioning reparations.
International demands for reparations are intensifying globally, encompassing everything from official acknowledgments to monetary compensation, despite opposition from those who believe current institutions shouldn’t bear responsibility for historical wrongs.
Last month, France chose not to support a United Nations resolution led by African nations that labeled slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity” and demanded reparations.
