Expert: Ernest Tufft - 4/27/2008

Question
Hello, my name is Pizza and I am currently in 8th grade.
I am not sure by reading your profile, if you could help me with slavery subject.

Here are my question:
Why was there slavery?
Why does it persist today?
It should be based on the African AMerican Slavery.

I am soon having a debate/chat in my hisotry class and my group has to talk about these questions.
I hope you could help me with this one, but if it's not your subject then that is fine.

Thank you,
Best Regards

Answer
Pizza,

The capture and mistreatment of individuals by others has persisted since the beginning to time.  In ancient times, one tribe would win a war with another and the victor would enslave the defeated.  The African continent was the last major place where such tribe on tribe enslavement occurred, and so this played well into the opportunistic Europeans looking for a cheap and capable labor supply.  African-Americans have not been the only enslaved immigrants however.  In the past, European immigrants, and more recently, Mexican and Asian immigrants signed "endentured servant" contracts in exchange for transportation to America.  Becoming slaves in effect, these immigrants willing gave up freedoms for work and sleep with the hope that in the future they would be able to enjoy the freedoms that most Americans enjoy.

The enslavement of Africans, however, is particularly significant because slave and master were in part determined by skin color and race, and because the treatment of African slaves was so brutal and long in history, as well as particularly degrading to the society, slave, and ultimately slave master.  The experience of the African-American immigrant is unlike that of other immigrants who struggled to acquire freedom in America.  Although choice of an elected official, such as president of the USA, should certainly be made based on evaluation of the candidate's judgement and experience, rather than race, the fact that such a highly talented candidate can be found in a black man like Barack Obama should offer pause for reflection among all voters--white or black.  The legacy of inequity between white and black in America is a stain on its otherwise reputation for freedom and equality.  Thus, a black face in the White House would symbolize and inform the world that American voters do place high value on equality.

While most Americans recognize the terrific contributions made by African immigrants to music, sport, food, and other basic qualities of American life, few recognize the impact the slave trade has had on black Africans still living in Africa.  In my travels through West African, the place where a majority of the slave "cargo" was taken, I learned about the effects of depopulation and social hurt caused by slavery and European colonialism.  Today, West Africans look more toward the cultural values of the USA (and to some extent Brazil) than they do to Europe.  The social differences between African-Americans and Africans are great, but few Americans (white or black) appreciate who much we do share in terms of basic values and appreciation for music, sport, and food.

Why does slavery persist today?  Well, basically wherever there are immoral, lazy, and profit minded businessmen, their will always be a temptation to make others work for as low a wage as possible.  Today, the greater willingness by corporations to export American Union jobs to Asia to increase profit margins is a sort of modern day slavery.  Same thing when American farmers and produce warehouses illegally import Mexican to do low wage work no American laborer would find dignity to do.

In addition to profit motivations, terrible attitudes based on fear of the unknown and on cultural preferences inspire divisions reminiscent of the Jim Crow days of the Southern USA.  The use of race, gender, or ethnic background to control who gets what jobs, at what wage, who can live in what neighborhood, who is the likely criminal suspect, and so on, is inequity that reminds one of the old slave days.

I personally am confident that Americans will learn to leave in peace and prosperity because their differences causes everyone to work hard to be equal.  I hope that you are part of the debate and can offer your ideas about slavery now.  This is perhaps the most exciting presidential election in my lifetime.  While you may not be able to vote, you can inspire your parents and other adults to get off the sofa and vote!

Best of luck to you!