After Emancipation: How Qatar Relates to the Legacy of Slavery and Racism

The present study is on contemporary discussions about slavery and racism in Qatar. It analyzes the Bin Jelmood House, the first museum dedicated to slavery in the region. The main questions are: what are the competing narratives and representations about slavery and racism in Qatar? How do these various narratives relate to concerns about nation-building and cultural specificity? What connections do various actors draw between slavery, religion, and contemporary labor regimes in the Gulf? The research contributes to the scant literature on slavery and racism in the Gulf. Using an anthropological method, I analyze the exhibits at the BJH and compliment them with interviews, public and social media debates, academic scholarship, fatwas, and literary fiction.