African Americans Considered A Civilized Society

The Atlantic Slave Trade’s impact to the social workings of Africa were one not only in the personal connections of the people but in the culture as well. During this trade many in Africa were left in states of fear of being taken feeling unsafe in even their own land. Another one of the effects the Atlantic Slave Trade had on the social construct of Africa is in how their history and cultural identity resulted in the aftermath. Through the slave trade, Africans were removed from their homes at a young age disallowing them from learning from their elders about their own culture. Even if that culture was taught to them before hand, those captured would have been forced to assimilate into their new environment losing that culture and history they once had. The Atlantic Slave Trade had also brought on a popularity in the use of domestic slaves used by upper class within Africa which brought on another on set of issues particularly in Western and Central Africa. Because of several raids occurring to

Africa had been the target of colonialism and slavery for many years. The colonies that European’s developed during fifteenth and sixteenth century were the main reason that started slave trade in Africa.

From the 17th century until the 19th century, almost twelve million Africans were brought to the New World against their will to perform back-breaking labour under terrible conditions. The rationalizations and defences given for slavery and the slave trade were absurd and self-serving. Slavery was a truly barbaric, and those who think that they can control what another group of people eat, where they sleep, whether they are to live or die, or even whether they are to be bought or sold, are acting on a totally inhumane level.

Before the 17th century, Africans were not seen as “black”, but as “pagan”. The subtle change to racism occurred in this century as Trans-Atlantic trade developed. In the time period from 1600 to 1763, labor systems in British America changed drastically in the West Indian islands and the Southern colonies because of Trans-Atlantic trade, but they stayed similar in the Middle and New England colonies to what they were before constant trade across the Atlantic was introduced.

Europeans filled in the blanks of African history by using exoticism to come up with origin theories that made sense to them. Because the African population has a different physical appearance than Europeans, they were viewed as the “other” race, and therefore were inferior in the minds of Europeans. Africa, however, was a society that was equally as complex as any European nation, unique with their own kingdoms and customs. Because of this, it was incorrect for Europeans to label Africans as “savage” individuals. Africa’s culture is rich and deserves to be interpreted in the way that they see fit, rather than having European stereotypes of the past define their culture of

The slave trade in the North American colonies began to grow in the 1600s. The African slave trade sourced their slaves from many different West African villages and countries. The business of slavery was a growing and profitable field, not only for the slavers, but also for the slaveholders. With the decrease of indentured servants, settlers in the English colonies looked for a new source of labor to satisfy their growing labor demands. The next source was Africa. “By the 1690s slaves outnumbered indentured servants four to one” (45). Europeans largely disregarded the ethical dilemma posed by slavery due to the European view of Africans and their culture as uncivilized, foreign, and heathen (44). The largest forced migration in history (44)

The Europeans thought it as their duty to civilize the “inferior” races by expanding western ideals. However, they did so in a vicious and grueling way where citizens were treated inhumanely. From An Anthology of West African Verse by David Diop, he entails

West Africa’s society was severely altered with the loss of thousands of their citizens to the New World. The transition from Indentured servants to African slaves provided plantation owners the access to thousands of workers that would be bound to slavery for life. With the influx of slaves, the tobacco trade was able to increase from 200,000 pounds in 1624 to 15 million pounds by 1664, to 30 million pounds by the 1680’s. The African slaves were viewed as 3/5ths human and as a result received treatment even harsher than the previous servants. Profits began to reach new unforeseen heights and as a result, the dehumanization of the slaves became a social normality.(Foner

The changes in African life during the slave trade era form an important element in the economic and technological development of Africa. Although the Atlantic slave trade had a negative effect on both the economy and technology, it is important to understand that slavery was not a new concept to Africa. In fact, internal slavery existed in Africa for many years. Slaves included war captives, the kidnapped, adulterers, and other criminals and outcasts. However, the number of persons held in slavery in Africa, was very small, since no economic or social system had developed for exploiting them (Manning 97). The new system-Atlantic slave trade-became quite different from the early African slavery. The

The content of this book is the history of how Africans were treated in the Americas between 1550 and 1812. The author offered his perspective on how Africans were treated in each historical period, which included the colonial period.

Throughout the history of mankind, a vast variety of achievements can be noted. Whether it be the discovery of fire, electricity, democracy, etc., humans have mastered the art of advancing themselves toward modern civilization. However, the history of mankind is also burden with many acts of darkness. Centuries ago, the slavery system was created and this hateful act continues to haunt the world to this day. A common miss conception of slavery, is that it began with the Europeans kidnapping Africans and taking them to the New World for agricultural purposes. However, slavery stretches much farther than the early developments of the United Sates. For example, the word slavery is derived from the root word “Slav”, which originated from the the Slavic people who were subjugated by other Europeans in the early developments of mankind. (Azumah) Western slavery is often connected with being the most heinous act towards the African people in history. With that said, many people are unaware of the Arab Muslim slave trade that occurred which resulted in the deaths of millions of more African lives than American slavery. (Azumah)

Behn’s purpose were, presumably, to present the slave trade as honorable; the trading partners of Africa simply symbolize the second side of the enterprise, along with the Europeans. Also, Behn wants to show the natives, Indians, as warm, welcoming and useful, but the constant malice of the Europeans continuously destroys this harmless appearance (Behn 7). This characteristic regarding the behavior of Europeans towards the natives is also originated on a historical basis. At the start of the 17th century, England did not admit the slave category from a legal, social or political point of view. Unlike Spain, which had a well instigated organization of slavery within the country, the English did not hold the foundation of Africans as a “naturally

According to the author, the legacy of colonialism at this time was that Europe was superior. Europeans believed that they were at the top of the evolutionary ladder and that everyone else was a lower species. They believed that the lower species were to be exterminated. Racism was a major factor in the culture at this time. They thought of Africans to be animal or beast like. The culture was very violent around this era. Europeans weren’t punished for being brutal to the Africans. I believe this past has taught the present on what not to do. We now have more education and knowledge, unlike then, we now know that Africans aren’t a different species. Today racism is still alive, but nowhere near the extent as it was in the past. I believe that this past still has some effect

The Slave Trade and Britain Today ‘The slave trade has no relevance in Britain today’ It is difficult to agree with this statement, Britain hold a wide variety of race and for them and their ancestor’s slavery was only yesterday however For the British slavery is seen as being their history. Within this essay I will explain the differences between race and racism, I will also include the history of the slave trade and how it came about. The term race in a sociologist’s point of view refers to the physical characteristics that are inherited and unchanging between others including their hair type, skin colour.

During the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Britain was considered the dominating country for the exportation of slaves and the cultivation of sugar. Despite this power, Britain decided to suppress the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, an issue they persisted to fight for sixty years. This historical event became an intriguing one, as many theorists tried to understand the reasoning behind Britain’s actions. Several believed it was solely based on a humanitarian concept, but it soon came to light that Britain’s actions were completely based on what they would gain as a nation. Despite the minor success British had on the intellectual dimension on slavery, their efforts to suppress the Trans-Atlantic slave trade can still be considered a failure based on their economic, military, and political loss, but also based on the severe conditions it brought to the African Americans, who continued to suffer at the hands of other slave countries.