Slavery (single, exploited, American, African, effects)

Crowe · 07-16-2008, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

Because it was the most widespread and solidifying usage of slavery in world history. Other cultures have employed slavery during tragic times, but America was the first to use it to build an economy and build a stratified system of procuring and utilizing Africans for labor. Most of us are aware of the enslavement of Eastern European peoples ("slave" is actually a derivative of "Slav") during the sixteenth century and earlier. However, it was not as widespread and for the most part, it was domestic slavery, much like an unpaid civil servant (no I'm not condoning it). Africans were viewed as prized possessions, objects which confirmed the owner's wealth.

When the New World was settled, the white invaders tried and failed to use labor from native peoples. I do not know if Africans were that much stronger or more "fit for physical labor," but that was the stigma. And so, Africa was raped of her culture and heritage as millions upon untold millions were shipped from west African nations because the white man assumed he was the superior being. And there they toiled for three hundred years under the burning sun.

The thing that sets the United States apart from all those other countries that legalized slavery is the fact that the American economy was built upon slave labor.

I think your predilection for grandeur has made some of your statements false. And by "think" I mean, I know. You think that the 300 year span of American slavery was the most widespread use of slaves... ever? Is that... a joke? Or just turning a blind eye to history for the sheer fun of it? America was not the first to do any of those things you mentioned... I wish I had the energy to write a fully fleshed response right now, unfortunately that is not the case. But... for starters - and this is basic knowledge that I thought EVERYONE knew about - just look at slavery in ancient Egypt. Simply reading an article on that particular era would disprove your American slavery being unique spiel. Slavery has been around since ~1760 BC... I just can't believe that you believe the things that you are saying. I feel like you heard it somewhere and adopted the sense of logic without doing any real research.

I'm a Peace Studies/International Studies major at the University of Missouri, so slavery (among other atrocities) is something I have to read about all the time. I hope to be an International Human Rights Lawyer one of these days (sigh, it'll be awhile), so this is one of those subjects I am pretty passionate about - I say this not to brag or elevate myself, but merely to save you time on writing out the history of slavery to me like you started to do up there... also it's kind of ridiculous to see that kind of misconception coming out of someone who seems to be intelligent.

You really think that America was the only country whose economical strength was founded on free labor? Come on now...

Sparky · 07-17-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowe

. But... for starters - and this is basic knowledge that I thought EVERYONE knew about - just look at slavery in ancient Egypt.
...

This may sound dumb, but i heard on discovery channel that egypt never actually had slaves.

heres the quote:
"The Pyramids were not built by slaves, the 'fact' is, contrary to popular 'myth', Egypt never had slaves, they didn't need them... they had the Nile River which provided them with enough water and resources that the communities flourished and provided them with enough free time to build the Pyramids without slaves"

My teacher also told me they were fed good meat, something they wouldn't normally feed to slaves?

I doubt either beleif can be proven entirely, but this sounds plausible :-)