Badjedidude
Well-known member
Ok, before I go into this little ramble, be informed that I DO NOT LIKE RACISM. I AM NOT A RACIST. lol
My problem with those who cry "slavery" is that they often build up slavery as an emotional, evil, RACE-BASED thing perpetrated by those cruel white fat men who did it because it was fun....or something equally ridiculous. In truth, SLAVERY WAS ONLY EVER AN ECONOMIC practice. There was no great sadistic enjoyment in it; it was purely a business decision...and we all know how negative those can be. Those who claim slavery as their great victimization (even today) seem to also forget that Africans and Islanders were SELLING EACH OTHER into slavery long before Europeans ever showed up.
Mankind has been employing slavery as an economic gain for centuries...and it has little to do with race (as the motivating reason). Africans weren't taken as slaves because they were black! It's because they were CHEAP. They were easy to catch. It's been the same throughout known history. A stronger, more technologically advanced civilization comes and enslaves a lesser-advanced civilization and utilizes them as a workforce. It's that simple.
So I get understandably upset when people equate slavery with race issues....especially when people use slavery as an excuse for their own laziness or lack of work ethic. Sure, there's a bit of race involved, as often it's one race enslaving another...but not in this case.
Black people were called N*ggers LONG before they were taken (and sold by their own people also) as slaves. The race issue comes from the Western European mindset that white races were more pure than darker races....religion also ties in there a bit. But SLAVERY ITSELF is an entirely separate issue, based only in economics....and only connected to race because Africans at this time WERE technologically less advanced than European nations (and therefore, according to the mindset of the times, less advanced as a culture and civilization).
Race is only a secondary consideration in the matter of slavery and has no real impact on it. Keep in mind that whites were also taken as slaves from Spanish and Dutch colonies, and that whites have also been enslaved for centuries under the guise of indentured servitude and serfdom. SLAVERY IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. And so has little to do with race.
Well there's yet another 2 cents from a history guy's perspective. Keep in mind that I am NOT attempting to excuse slavery, as there is no excuse for it. But I believe I've given a fairly objective, historical glance at the institution of slavery as a whole here...and I hope it shows everyone that NO, the word N*gger DOES NOT equate to people in chains. Lol sorry Soph.
SophiaGrace said:The N word = people in chains
My problem with those who cry "slavery" is that they often build up slavery as an emotional, evil, RACE-BASED thing perpetrated by those cruel white fat men who did it because it was fun....or something equally ridiculous. In truth, SLAVERY WAS ONLY EVER AN ECONOMIC practice. There was no great sadistic enjoyment in it; it was purely a business decision...and we all know how negative those can be. Those who claim slavery as their great victimization (even today) seem to also forget that Africans and Islanders were SELLING EACH OTHER into slavery long before Europeans ever showed up.
Mankind has been employing slavery as an economic gain for centuries...and it has little to do with race (as the motivating reason). Africans weren't taken as slaves because they were black! It's because they were CHEAP. They were easy to catch. It's been the same throughout known history. A stronger, more technologically advanced civilization comes and enslaves a lesser-advanced civilization and utilizes them as a workforce. It's that simple.
So I get understandably upset when people equate slavery with race issues....especially when people use slavery as an excuse for their own laziness or lack of work ethic. Sure, there's a bit of race involved, as often it's one race enslaving another...but not in this case.
Black people were called N*ggers LONG before they were taken (and sold by their own people also) as slaves. The race issue comes from the Western European mindset that white races were more pure than darker races....religion also ties in there a bit. But SLAVERY ITSELF is an entirely separate issue, based only in economics....and only connected to race because Africans at this time WERE technologically less advanced than European nations (and therefore, according to the mindset of the times, less advanced as a culture and civilization).
Race is only a secondary consideration in the matter of slavery and has no real impact on it. Keep in mind that whites were also taken as slaves from Spanish and Dutch colonies, and that whites have also been enslaved for centuries under the guise of indentured servitude and serfdom. SLAVERY IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. And so has little to do with race.
Well there's yet another 2 cents from a history guy's perspective. Keep in mind that I am NOT attempting to excuse slavery, as there is no excuse for it. But I believe I've given a fairly objective, historical glance at the institution of slavery as a whole here...and I hope it shows everyone that NO, the word N*gger DOES NOT equate to people in chains. Lol sorry Soph.