I reckon maybe it's slavery that got us all divided. That fool Max Kellerman calls it "America's original sin" as if perpetuating some kind of phony mea culpa that has no meaning, makes things better. Doesn't he know America didn't invent slavery or racial discrimi-nation. Encouraging this absurdity only makes things worse. Makes for divides that shouldn't be, and don't have to be.
Slavery was gradually abolished in Europe over many centuries, finally ending in Russia 1679, forty years after the Mayflower. But it was still rampant in Africa. This was a concern of the wealthy, as common people had few rights prior to 1600. Most were uneducated field workers. Europe was ruled by monarchs whose families intermarried, creating a mutual interest in self-preservation and the established order.
But outside Europe, there wasn't much you could do with conquered peoples - except kill or enslave them. That is, if you didn't want them doing the same to you, some day soon. So reforms came about very gradually, not because the average person is evil or prone to original sin. But because the average person wasn't even considered human by the ruling classes. For example, Native Americans received "human" status by a 1928 Act of Congress. I guess Max doesn't read much, and figures yall don't either.
Slavery in the Caribbean put sugar on the table in Europe. Now that's terrible - working people to death in horrible conditions. But understand the time frame, it was a tough old world. Working people to death - in fields, on ships, and later in factories, was as common as butchering hogs. Except hogs were harder to come by, and thus more highly valued. Human life, the life of working or enslaved poor, meant next to nothing in the bad old days.
The abuse of Africans as slaves has a simple explanation. As Carnegie might've put it "capitalists out to make money." Add to that - locale and available resources - and you get ships from Europe sailing to Brazil and Caribbean to export sugar, cocoa, and other food products back to Europe. En route, they stopped along the African coast to buy slaves - to do the dangerous, often deadly work of producing those products. The same principle (or lack thereof) applies to slavery in America.
The Atlantic slave trade was a three-hundred year process, roughly 1500 to 1800, but the history of enslavement is as old as mankind. That doesn't diminish the evils but it's helpful to identify origins so we aren't confused. Africans were captured and used as slaves because it was handy to do so, not because of racial hatred. That came about later, as a way to justify or excuse the use slaves in America. Similar to the excuses for genocide in the American west and many other parts of the world throughout history.
So I'll tell you a story 'bout my friends. Was deactivating from the military in Italy, and Al says his Masonic Lodge is having a party and he needs another bartender. So I volunteer. "You sure" he asks. Why not, I used to be a bartender, and it oughtta be fun. And anyway, Al had let me drive one of his cars for the many weeks after mine was shipped home, so I owe him, more than I can repay. But is also funny, here's this lieutenant serving drinks to the enlisted men and their wives, which in the Air Force in 1985 was unusual.
But you still don't get the joke. I'm interested in hanging around with Masons, finding out what they're like; and how else would I ever get an invite. But the real reason I'm there (and there's also a young Italian guy, Lorenzo, who was a civilian co-worker of ours, who desperately wanted to come to America) and we're there - to wait 'til midnight, as usual, when Sheila shows up in her white leather skirt & jacket. She smiles at us seated 'round the table; with everyone else gone home by now, sits down for a drink, and then leaves.
But you see, Sheila was a fun person to be around, with a great dry sense of humor. During the two-week NATO exercises with full chem gear and gas masks in 12-hour overnight shifts waiting for the sirens, she'd entertain, acting out her impressions of James Brown "jump back...kiss myself" and Eddie Murphy "hey Naughton, hey Naughton, I know you wanna come down here and fuck me up the ass..." the whole routine from memory. And quoting Sgt Dudley "when the Russians attack, I'm headin for the hills with everybody else." She was funny, and clever, and also just flat out gorgeous. And you could tell that - by just looking at her.
http://mertsahinoglu.com/.../indentured-servitude.../
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