Keywords

art history, photography, victorian art, victorian photography, women of color, revisionist history, propoganda, victorian britain, women of color

Abstract

While visiting an African kingdom in 1851, British naval captain Frederick Forbes rescued a five year-old girl from a sacrificial ritual, brought her to England, and presented the girl to Queen Victoria. Her Majesty was taken with the girl and made her a ward of the Crown. Christened Sarah Forbes Bonetta, she was raised in the public eye and bestowed the endearing moniker of “Britain’s African Princess”. A seemingly heartwarming tale, Bonetta’s life played out as an experiment that became Victorian Britain’s ultimate propaganda. Her African history, distinct features, and intelligence were ubiquitously highlighted. This living testament to the “civilizing” effect of British education was touted in part to justify British imperial efforts in the nineteenth century. Her subsequent near-erasure from history exposes her role as a pawn for Victorian Britain in its quest to establish itself as the world’s paramount civilization.

While visiting an African kingdom in 1851, British naval captain Frederick Forbes rescued a five year-old girl from a sacrificial ritual. An abolitionist, Captain Forbes was determined to give the young girl a free life. He negotiated her release, brought her to his ship, and returned home to England to present the girl to Queen Victoria. Her Majesty was taken with the girl and made her a ward of the Crown. Christened Sarah Forbes Bonetta, she was raised in the public eye and bestowed the endearing moniker of “Britain’s African Princess”. A seemingly heartwarming tale, Bonetta’s life played out as a piece of living propaganda for British education and society. Presented in photographs, prints, and newspapers, her sensational childhood, African features, and marked intelligence were ubiquitously touted. For the British, Bonetta served as a living testament to the “civilizing” effect of British education, which was touted in part to justify British imperial efforts in the nineteenth century. Her subsequent near-erasure from history exposes her role as a pawn for Victorian Britain in its quest to establish itself as the world’s most paramount civilization.